Argentinian Squid Market Sees Price Drop and Demand Shift in W16

In the last two weeks, there has been a sudden change in the Argentinian squid season, with volumes decreasing and significant shifts in prices and demand. Offers from Taiwan for Argentinian squid, sourced from the Falkland Islands and the 201-mile zone, have led to a 25% price drop. Taiwanese fishing companies are now offering prices ranging from USD 3,000 to USD 3,300 per metric ton (mt) for medium (M) and large (L) sizes, significantly lower than the previous prices of USD 4,000 to USD 4,500/mt offered by Argentinian exporters. This price drop has resulted in canceled orders and deals for buyers, prompting Argentinian exporters to focus on producing squid tubes or other value-added products instead. However, the situation differs for small sizes (SS and S) from Argentina, as demand for bait remains strong, keeping prices relatively stable. Taiwan is not offering this product to the market, so prices for SS and S sizes are hovering around USD 3,500/mt.