Hokkaido scallop production decline pushes up global prices, U.S. and European demand under pressure
Published 2025년 9월 29일
Tridge summary
Due to reduced production, the recovery rate of scallop meat has fallen to less than 10%, with sizes generally smaller, mainly 4S and 5S. Meanwhile, raw material prices have risen across the board. The latest transaction prices at Saru Port reached 309 yen per kilogram, 352 yen at Esashi, 265–245 yen at Monbetsu, and 303–346 yen between Noshiro and Saru. The wholesale price of frozen scallop meat had already reached 10,000 yen per kilogram (L size) by mid-September, with M size at around 8,000 yen, S size at 7,000 yen, 2S at around 6,000 yen, and even 3S size with contract prices exceeding 6,000 yen.
The United States, as Japan's largest export market for scallops, is experiencing significant price pressure. Traditional buyers focused on L and M sizes have gradually shifted to S sizes due to high prices. Data shows that from January to July, Japan's frozen scallop meat exports increased by 14% to 6,950 tons, but the export value surged by 65% to 29.6 billion yen, with the average unit price rising by 45% to 3,758 yen per kilogram, marking a three-year historical high. Exports to the U.S. decreased by 7% to 1,800 tons, but the average price reached nearly 5,700 yen per kilogram, with some contracts in March and April exceeding 6,400 yen.
Other markets have also been affected. Exports to Taiwan fell by 47% to 450 tons, with the export value decreasing by 20% to 3.7 billion yen, but the average price still rose by 52% to 4,482 yen per kilogram. Exports of shell-on scallops to Southeast Asia dropped to 13,700 tons, a significant decrease of 46% year-on-year, but due to the doubling of the average price to 566 yen per kilogram, the total value increased by 18% to 77.5 billion yen. Among these, Vietnam is the largest buyer, importing 9,600 tons, a decrease of 42% year-on-year; Thailand imported 2,100 tons, a sharp decrease of 62%.
The Toyosu market in Tokyo also reflects the soaring prices. From January to August, the average price of frozen scallop meat reached 8,425 yen per kilogram, peaking at 9,242 yen in March. Due to export pressure, domestic supply is only about 9 tons, leading to a severe imbalance between supply and demand, with wholesalers generally concerned that the Japanese catering industry will face raw material shortages.
Industry insiders point out that high temperatures, production cuts, and China's import ban starting in August 2023 are the main factors driving the current price surge. Although China partially relaxed import restrictions in 2025, as of July, there have been no records of Japanese scallops entering the country. Under these circumstances, the market structure has changed, with demand from Europe, the U.S., and Southeast Asia becoming the main support. However, whether prices can remain high in the long term depends on future production recovery and the tolerance of downstream markets.
The United States, as Japan's largest export market for scallops, is experiencing significant price pressure. Traditional buyers focused on L and M sizes have gradually shifted to S sizes due to high prices. Data shows that from January to July, Japan's frozen scallop meat exports increased by 14% to 6,950 tons, but the export value surged by 65% to 29.6 billion yen, with the average unit price rising by 45% to 3,758 yen per kilogram, marking a three-year historical high. Exports to the U.S. decreased by 7% to 1,800 tons, but the average price reached nearly 5,700 yen per kilogram, with some contracts in March and April exceeding 6,400 yen.
Other markets have also been affected. Exports to Taiwan fell by 47% to 450 tons, with the export value decreasing by 20% to 3.7 billion yen, but the average price still rose by 52% to 4,482 yen per kilogram. Exports of shell-on scallops to Southeast Asia dropped to 13,700 tons, a significant decrease of 46% year-on-year, but due to the doubling of the average price to 566 yen per kilogram, the total value increased by 18% to 77.5 billion yen. Among these, Vietnam is the largest buyer, importing 9,600 tons, a decrease of 42% year-on-year; Thailand imported 2,100 tons, a sharp decrease of 62%.
The Toyosu market in Tokyo also reflects the soaring prices. From January to August, the average price of frozen scallop meat reached 8,425 yen per kilogram, peaking at 9,242 yen in March. Due to export pressure, domestic supply is only about 9 tons, leading to a severe imbalance between supply and demand, with wholesalers generally concerned that the Japanese catering industry will face raw material shortages.
Industry insiders point out that high temperatures, production cuts, and China's import ban starting in August 2023 are the main factors driving the current price surge. Although China partially relaxed import restrictions in 2025, as of July, there have been no records of Japanese scallops entering the country. Under these circumstances, the market structure has changed, with demand from Europe, the U.S., and Southeast Asia becoming the main support. However, whether prices can remain high in the long term depends on future production recovery and the tolerance of downstream markets.
Original content
Due to reduced production, the recovery rate of scallop meat has fallen to less than 10%, with sizes generally smaller, mainly 4S and 5S. Meanwhile, raw material prices have risen across the board. The latest transaction prices at Saru Port reached 309 yen per kilogram, 352 yen at Esashi, 265–245 yen at Monbetsu, and 303–346 yen between Noshiro and Saru. The wholesale price of frozen scallop meat had reached 10,000 yen per kilogram (L size) by mid-September, with M size at around 8,000 yen, S size at 7,000 yen, 2S at around 6,000 yen, and even 3S size with contract prices exceeding 6,000 yen. The United States, as Japan's largest export market for scallops, is experiencing significant price pressure. Traditional buyers focused on L and M sizes have gradually shifted to S sizes due to high prices. Data shows that from January to July, Japan's frozen scallop meat exports increased by 14% to 6,950 tons, but the export value surged by 65% to 29.6 billion yen, with the average unit ...
Source: Foodmate
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