High Price of Yellowtail Due to Low Supply in Japan in 2022

The market price of yellowtail fluctuates in Japan depending on the shipment volume and the season, but the market price of farmed yellowtail remained high throughout 2022. According to the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, the price fluctuation range for farmed yellowtail from January 2013 to August 2016 was USD 4.19/kg (JPY 590/kg), while wild yellowtail was USD 7.18/kg (JPY 1,011/kg). In this way, the price of farmed yellowtail is more stable than the price of the wild yellowtail. Comparing the average wholesale price of farmed yellowtail in January at the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, it was USD 6.10/kg (JPY 859/kg) in 2021 and USD 10.96/kg (JPY 1,543/kg) in 2022, an increase of USD 4.86/kg (JPY 684/kg) in one year.

Furthermore, in 2022, it exceeded the previous year for ten consecutive months since January, and the high price continues. Normally, the price will reach its highest level around August, and then it will start to fall until it reaches its lowest level around the beginning of the year in winter. However, in 2022, even in the winter, the price did not go down and remained at a high price. The reasons for the continuing high price are thought to be due to the decrease in the amount of fish in the area because of the impact of COVID-19, and soaring prices in feed, materials, and fuel.