U.S. pollock sellers were the first to secure EU PBO contracts.

Published Dec 22, 2025

Tridge summary

Core tip: The competition between U.S. and Russian suppliers on export pricing for the A season in 2026 is becoming increasingly fierce. According to industry news, U.S. exporters have already reached early contracts with European buyers for boneless fish fillets (PBO) at prices approximately $200 to $250 per ton lower than those quoted by Russia, marking a tentative deal for the European market next year. On the other hand, Russia is determined to maintain high price quotes, so that even with the European Union's 13.7% import tariff, its price level still exceeds that of U.S. suppliers.

Original content

Industry insiders point out that European processors and large buyers are facing a difficult choice. A European trader revealed that although there are ample reasons to support a price increase in the market, major processing companies in France, Germany, and the UK are still trying to drive down prices. However, due to the preferential treatment of U.S. pollock under the European Union's autonomous tariff quota (ATQ) system, while Russian products must pay full tax, U.S. products have a price advantage in the European market. The market generally expects that the U.S. will be the first to finalize contracts, while Russia may continue to wait, hoping for higher spot prices. Currently, the price of U.S. boneless fillets has increased by about $50 per ton compared to the previous month, and by 16% year-on-year. The strong demand in Europe and stable consumption in the U.S. domestic market have jointly driven this price increase. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's procurement plan, ...
Source: Foodmate

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