Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending October 30, 2026

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US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expects the war with Iran to end soon, although he offered no details on how the hostilities would be brought to a close.

Trump has previously said the United States would not launch strikes against Iran before the midterm elections.

Meanwhile, a Panama-flagged tanker was hit by two limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the first successful attack of its kind since the US-Iran war began. Trump reportedly sent Iran a letter seeking to revive peace talks, but Tehran has yet to respond.

Below is Expana’s weekly summary of...

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PODCAST: Episode 48 - Fueling Food Production: The Volatility of Energy Costs in 2026

Harvest season is well underway and it is the most energy-intensive period of the agricultural year. Meanwhile, the energy cost outlook for the food and agriculture sector remains complex and uncertain. In this episode of Agri-Food for Thought, join Jamie and guest, Senior Forecast Analyst Amanda Rastovic, as they break down the latest in energy market volatility and its impact on the sector.

Listen now.

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USDA Earmarks $472.5 Million in Food Buys, Including $12 Million for Pacific Whiting and $20 Million

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to buy up to $472.5 million in American-grown and American-raised commodities for the charitable food network and other nutrition assistance programs. The purchases run through USDA's Section 32 authority, which the department describes as one of its most direct tools for supporting producers when market conditions are tight. "Through Section 32 authority, USDA can direct funding to support commodity markets during periods of imbalance...

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FDA Finds Nearly Half of Imported Frozen Seafood Samples Short-Weighted

Nearly half of the imported frozen seafood the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested in 2025 was short on declared weight. In a sampling assignment, the agency found 12 of 26 samples (46%) violative, with short weights ranging from 1.42% to 32.75%. The agency collected packaged samples at ports of entry from May to September 2025 and tested them for net weight without the ice glaze.

Ice glaze is a thin protective layer of ice applied to frozen seafood after processing, and the FDA says that including...

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US Shrimpers Petition ITC to Block Indian Shrimp Imports Over Forced Labor

The US shrimp industry, backed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, has filed a trade action with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to end imports of Indian shrimp produced "through the reprehensible use of forced labor."

The Section 337 complaint asks the ITC to determine whether forced labor in the supply chains of seafood producer Nekkanti Sea Foods is an unfair trade practice that harms domestic shrimp producers...

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Expana's Weekly Top 10

From climate risks and shipping disruptions to shifting trade policies and seasonal demand, this week’s top stories highlight the pressures reshaping global food and seafood markets. Chile’s salmon sector faces another challenging stretch, US seafood policy is taking a new direction, and tighter protein supplies are keeping prices in focus as retailers prepare for the holiday season.

Find archived recaps here.

Seafood Industry, Production and Trade

10. Chilean Salmon Faces El Niño on Top of ISA, Tariffs and Feed Costs as Harvest Growth Slows by Ryan Doyle...

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Cruz Commits to Markup of Bill Extending Right Whale Pause for Maine Lobstermen

US Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) has committed to moving legislation that would extend the pause on new North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations through 2035. The committee will mark up the bill when the Senate returns in November.

Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Cruz on September 15, asking him to advance the bill. Their letter pressed the committee to act quickly and pointed to a right whale monitoring program run by Maine's Department of Marine Resources...

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Krusinski Completes 13,000-SF Santa Monica Seafood Expansion in Rancho Dominguez

Krusinski Construction Company has completed a 13,000-SF interior renovation of Santa Monica Seafood's Rancho Dominguez, California, facility. The project, which Expana reported was underway in August, supports the distributor's packaging, storage and distribution work for customers in more than 40 states.

The fast-track job reconfigured 9,000 SF of warehouse space and added a new 4,000-SF temperature-controlled cooler, held at 35°F, for packaging lines, ambient rooms and refrigeration equipment...

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McDonald’s China Opens First Ocean-themed Restaurant With Focus on Sustainability

McDonald’s China has officially opened its first ocean-themed restaurant in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen, with its long-standing partner, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Ocean-inspired elements are incorporated throughout the restaurant from its exterior and communal spaces to the details on individual tables, connecting products, sourcing practices and educational content to help consumers better understand the story behind sustainable seafood...

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ASC Honors Sainsbury’s, MOWI and Seafood Suppliers at 2026 UK Awards

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) recognized retailers, producers and suppliers for their contributions to responsible aquaculture at the MSC and ASC UK Awards 2026, held Oct. 28 at Fishmongers’ Hall in London.

Sainsbury’s, MOWI, Co-op, Waitrose and New England Seafood were among this year’s winners, highlighting efforts to expand the availability of ASC-certified seafood and strengthen environmental and social responsibility across the aquaculture supply chain.

Sainsbury’s received the ASC Supermarket of the Year award for the fifth consecutive year...

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From Pages to Plates: Kura Sushi USA Partners with Nintendo’s Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Game

The fun discoveries continue at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, as Yoshi, Mr. E, and Smiley Flowers leap from the pages of the storybook and into the iconic Bikkura Pon prize machine! Kura Sushi USA, Inc., the nation's largest brand of revolving sushi restaurants, today announced its partnership with Nintendo of America to bridge the world of the Yoshi and the Mysterious Book game on the Nintendo Switch 2 system with Kura Sushi’s playful dining experience.

Starting Nov. 1, Yosh...

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ADF&G Forecasts 67 Million Pink Salmon for Southeast Alaska in 2027, Largest Run Since 2013

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has forecast a 2027 Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvest of 67 million fish. That would be the largest harvest since 2013 and the fourth highest on record. "The 2027 harvest forecast of 67 million pink salmon would be the largest harvest since 2013 (94.7 million) and would be the 4th highest harvest on record," Andrew Piston, ADF&G's Southeast Alaska Salmon Research Supervisor, wrote.

The forecast rests on juvenile fish...

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FDA Seeks Comment on Draft US-Origin Seafood Labeling Guidance

The US Food and Drug Administration has published draft guidance on US-origin statements for seafood labels. When finalized, the guidance will give examples of US-origin claims that FDA would consider truthful and not misleading. It covers single-ingredient seafood and the seafood components of multi-ingredient foods. Companies that use these statements must be able to substantiate them. The guidance is non-binding, and FDA says it represents its current thinking...

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Umios Raises Stake in New Zealand's Sanford to 15.5%

Umios Inc. will acquire an additional 10.31% stake in Sanford Limited, a major New Zealand fisheries company, lifting its ownership from 5.22% to 15.53%. The acquisition date is November 2, 2026, and the price is NZ$71,996,607 ($40.4 million).

Umios and its wholly owned subsidiary, Maruha (NZ) Corporation, already hold 5.22% of Sanford. Sanford holds fishing quotas within New Zealand's exclusive economic zone and fishes for hoki, silverfish and scampi. It also farms king salmon and green mussels. Its products are sold in the US, Europe and China...

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Salmon Evolution Keeps 2027 Output Guidance as Phase 2 Ramps, Adds $21.6 Million Credit Line

Salmon Evolution is holding to its near-term targets as it brings its Phase 2 facility online. The company guides for 11,000 to 12,000 tonnes HOG harvested in 2027 and targets farming EBITDA costs of NOK 60 to 65 per kg by mid-2027. CEO Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen said the company remains "fully focused on unlocking the Phase 1 biomass growth potential" through water quality improvements...

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Haifa Smoked Fish Recalls Cold-Smoked Sprats Over Botulism Risk

Haifa Smoked Fish is recalling about 560 pounds of cold-smoked sprats because of possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism. The recall covers all lots. The company, which operates as D&M Smoked Fish Inc., said the product was distributed in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania through retail stores. No illnesses have been reported.

The FDA said its inspection of the firm's Jamaica, NY, facility found cold-smoked sprats were being produced without the controls required to prevent C. botulinum growth and toxin formation...

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P.F. Chang’s Leans on Nostalgia in New Brand Campaign

As nostalgia continues to shape marketing across the foodservice sector, P.F. Chang’s is leaning into multigenerational dining occasions in a new campaign aimed at reconnecting with long-time guests.

The campaign centers on a new brand spot set to Lukas Graham’s “7 Years,” following guests through milestones such as birthdays and family gatherings and celebrations. The creative highlights signature menu items and dining experiences, including Chang’s Lettuce Wraps and the Great Wall of Chocolate dessert, as the brand encourages former guests to return with their...

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Eastern Fish CEO Eric Bloom Steps Back to Advisory Role as Mazzetta Takes Interim Lead

Eric Bloom is stepping down as CEO of Eastern Fish and will remain with the company through the end of the year in an advisory role. Jordan Mazzetta, who runs Highwood Harbor, will serve as interim CEO. Bloom was promoted to CEO when Highwood Harbor acquired the Teaneck, N.J., importer in February. Mazzetta said: "For 40 years, Eric has poured himself into Eastern Fish. He (and the Bloom Family) built a great company and a great team, and that team is ready...

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Amazon Asks Court to Toss Seafood Greenwashing Suit

Amazon has asked a federal judge in Seattle to dismiss a class action alleging it greenwashed seafood sold on its platform. The motion, filed Oct. 26, argues that the plaintiffs do not allege that Amazon misrepresented any product's MSC certification status. "Their gripe is with MSC itself," the filing says. The case is Rogow v. Amazon.com, Inc., in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, before Judge Kymberly K. Evanson. Amazon asks the court to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, and the motion is set for January 8, 2027...

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Wild Fish Conservancy Threatens New Suit Over Alaska Chinook Catches in Area M

The Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) has served notice of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Alaska state officials. The group says they are failing to manage fisheries that catch Chinook salmon "without federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) oversight of their impacts on threatened and endangered Pacific Northwest Chinook."

The Washington-based group has sued NMFS and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) more than once over Chinook bound for the Pacific Northwest...

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Copernicus Data Supports Aquaculture Planning as Ocean Conditions Shift

Satellite data from the European Union’s Copernicus program is helping aquaculture producers monitor changing ocean conditions, identify suitable farming locations and improve operational planning as climate change creates new challenges for the sector. The technology is highlighted in Part 3 of the EU Space Agency (EUSPA)’s 2026 EU Space Market Report series, which examines how satellite data and related applications can support fisheries and aquaculture.

As warming seas increase the risk of harmful algal blooms and aquaculture operations move farther offshore, producers face growing challenges in...

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Coast Guard Rescues Five Crew From F/V Oracle Near False Pass, Alaska

The US Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to the F/V Oracle in False Pass on October 29 and airlifted all five crew members to safety.

At 4:48 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic received a report that the vessel had run aground on the south end of False Pass with five people aboard. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an...

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SNP’s Call to Action: Strengthen the Country’s Brain Health Infrastructure With Better Nutrition

A new white paper titled Brain Health Is National Infrastructure: A Call to Action for Philanthropy, Public Policy, and Investment Community, was issued earlier this week by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership. It outlines a path to advance brain health through nutrition, public policy, and strategic investment.

The report builds on findings from SNP’s 10th Annual State of the Science Symposium, held September 14 in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Nutrition science, food systems, military health...

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Blue Crab Emergency: Friend of the Sea and WSF Launch an Initiative to Support Italian Fishers

Damaged aquaculture farms, falling production and businesses under pressure: the blue crab emergency continues to weigh heavily on coastal communities along Italy’s Adriatic coast. In parts of Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy, the spread of this invasive species has contributed to a reduction of more than 70% in the production of market-size clams, according to figures released by the regional authorities in August 2026. The crisis threatens not only biodiversity, but also the livelihoods and future of many families...

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Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending October 30, 2026

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expects the war with Iran to end soon, although he offered no details on how the hostilities would be brought to a close.

Trump has previously said the United States would not launch strikes against Iran before the midterm elections.

Below is Expana’s weekly summary of...

Full Story »

Chile Declares Preventive Emergency in 15 Regions as Algal Bloom Risk Builds Ahead of El Niño Season

Chile has declared a preventive emergency across 15 regions over the threat of harmful algal blooms (HABs), running from November 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The decree, published on October 26, is a precaution, not a response to a specific outbreak. It aims to prepare the country's disaster system before summer, when the risk peaks.

The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service requested the decree, and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, Sernapesca, supplied the technical...

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Japan’s August Frozen Mackerel Export Rose 10%, Average Price Surged by 60%

According to a Minato Shimbun report, Japanese frozen mackerel exports in August totaled 11,632 metric tons, up 10% from the same month last year. With high landing prices and tight supply-demand conditions persisting, the average export price rose by 60% to 262 yen/kg ($1.66/kg)—the third-highest level on record, following 273 yen/kg ($1.73/kg) in March and 263 yen/kg ($1.66/kg) in May.

By destination, exports to Vietnam—the largest market—fell...

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SalmonChile Warns 26.5% Brazilian VAT Would Make Chilean Salmon Less Affordable

Chile's salmon industry is pressing Brazil to keep salmon off the standard tax rate. During a trip to São Paulo, SalmonChile president Patricio Melero warned that applying a 26.5% VAT would significantly raise the cost of the food basket. He said salmon needs competitive access terms in a market that is Chile's second most important.

The delegation met the Brazilian Supermarket Association (ABRAS) and the São Paulo Supermarket Association (APAS)...

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UK Seafood Market Reaches £4.96 Billion as Purchase Frequency Rises

The UK seafood market grew 4.7% in value to approximately £4.96 billion as consumers increased the frequency of seafood purchases, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council's (NSC) Mid-Year Market & Retail Report 2026.

Chilled seafood led the gains, with value up 6.2% and volume rising 1.8%. Seafood shopping frequency increased 1.5% year over year, while average spending per trip climbed 2.9%, the report said. The figures indicate the category is retaining consumer engagement despite household budget pressures, and that higher prices are not the only factor...

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Russia's 2027 Pollock Catch Set to Fall 3% on Lower Sea of Okhotsk and Western Bering Sea Stocks

Russia's pollock catch could fall by at least 3% in 2027 as stocks decline in some key fishing areas, according to analysts at the Russian Pollock Association (ADM). The total allowable catch for 2027 is 2.355 million tonnes, 3% below this year. The decline reflects an expected drop in catch in the Sea of Okhotsk and the western Bering Sea zone. Even so, quota utilization is expected to stay at the current 90–91%...

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ANALYSIS: Pacific Halibut Landings Gain Ground as Tight Supply Keeps Prices Elevated

Pacific halibut landings have continued to gain ground this fall, erasing the year-over-year deficit seen earlier in the season. According to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, coastwide landings through Week 41, ending Oct. 4, totaled 15.79 million pounds, up about 6% from 14.85 million pounds during the same period in 2025. Even with that improvement, current landings remain approximately 15% below the 2021–2025 five-year average, underscoring that the broader supply picture remains historically constrained...

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