Undercurrent News' week 14 (March 31-April 6) US wholesale price assessments for various key commodities are available on our new platform, to which UCN has just added new farmed salmon, live lobster, wild Mexican shrimp and octopus data. 

Pricing for Canadian-origin salmon is under the microscope amid the pending 25% US tariff, which will become clearer after President Donald Trump's announcements tonight, April 2, at 4 PM EST, said Lorin Castiglione, UCN's head of price reporting for North America, in her wrap-up on this sector. UCN has just added assessments for Canadian and Norwegian salmon to the Chilean quotes. 

"The US tariff decision remains the wild card. If implemented, it could significantly curtail Canadian volume to the US and open up opportunities for Chilean and Norwegian producers, particularly in fresh fillets. Market participants remain alert, and the tariff outcome will likely shape sourcing decisions for Q2," said Castiglione. 

Norwegian salmon continues its expansion in the US market, especially in the commodity segment, she said. Meanwhile, the Chilean salmon market continues to display a steady-to-soft tone across both fresh and frozen categories.

"If Canada gets 25% tariffs tonight, it's gonna shift where the US sources salmon - more focus on Chile and Norway - potentially increasing prices across the board with more demand from fewer suppliers," she said. 

On frozen coldwater lobster tails, "nearly the entirety of the category is discounted as the market seemingly fell out of bed with sellers interested in moving rather than holding inventory," said Gary Morrison, UCN's senior price reporter and head of business development, in his week 14 market wrap-up. 

For live lobster, which UCN has just initiated coverage of, wholesale prices are elevated and volatile early in the season due to active demand and short of supply ahead of Canada's main season kicking off later this month, said Ben Fisher, senior price reporter with UCN. "Some higher sales are noted behind the active and competitive buying activity."

Pacific cod continues to trade with a firm tone as products continue to demand premiums supported by reduced US quotas, limited domestic landings and the continued exclusion of Russian supply.

"While demand is steady, it’s not overly aggressive, a reflection of conservative purchasing strategies rather than weak underlying need. If replacement costs continue to rise, further price appreciation could follow as Q2 unfolds," said Castiglione in her groundfish wrap-up for week 14. 

The elevated pricing for Spanish-origin octopus is retracing as US consumers push back against some luxury seafood items during uncertainty, said Morrison in his wrap-up on this sector.

This is causing a disconnect between origin prices, which continue to move higher, and the US market. Given the trade-down effect, the available offerings from the Philippines and Indonesia are supported.

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UCN publishes its price assessments and market wrap-ups for crab, cephalopods, salmon, shrimp, frozen lobster, groundfish, farmed whitefish and scallops every Wednesday. On Monday, UCN publishes a market pulse, giving a sense of the week ahead. 

Contact us by clicking here if you'd like to add the platform to your subscription. If you don't have a subscription and want to request a trial, click here.

Click below for the links to each sector update:

• Various species of crab and pasteurized and fresh crab meat
• Atlantic salmon, now featuring Canadian, Chilean and Norwegian
• Asian and Latin American farmed shrimp, Argentine reds and wild Mexican
• Frozen lobster tails and meat, and live lobster 
• Various species of frozen groundfish such as cod, haddock, pollock and sole
• Frozen and fresh tilapia and frozen pangasius
• Canadian, Chinese, Japanese and US scallops
• Octopus from Spain, Indonesia and the Philippines 

Below, you can watch a video explaining how to use the platform.