Undercurrent News aims to provide accurate, transparent price assessments for the farmed whitefish sector. These assessments will reflect key market trends and offer clarity for buyers, sellers, traders, and other participants within the supply chain.

All assessments listed here follow the IOSCO-aligned Undercurrent News Price Reporting Methodology, which provides transparency and clarity on data collection, pricing criteria, and assessment processes. For more details, please refer to our methodology principles.

Our methodologies are updated periodically to reflect the latest market standards and practices. When changes are made, subscribers will be informed through our regular publications and communications. Our market reporting team can address questions or provide additional guidance on methodology details or assessment-related inquiries. They can be contacted at [email protected].

 

Product Coverage and Specifications

Overview

Our farmed whitefish market assessments cover various categories and product types, sourced globally. Products are categorized by species, processing type, and origin, providing detailed and segmented price reporting.

Categories

 

Pricing Basis and Volume

Pricing Structure

  • Frozen Products: Prices are listed as ex-warehouse, representing the cost of goods available at the seller’s warehouse.
  • Fresh Products: For fresh items, prices are listed on an FOB Miami basis, indicating where responsibility transfers from seller to buyer.

Transaction Size

All prices reflect less-than-truckload (LTL) volumes, which aligns with industry norms and provides a realistic picture of market values. Prices are stated in $/lb, the standard unit for whitefish pricing.

 

Hierarchy of Data Collection for Price Assessments

Our methodology prioritizes data to ensure accuracy and market reflection:

  • Verified Transactions: Independent, confirmed trades are prioritized to form the basis of our assessments.
  • Market Bids and Offers: Validated bids and offers open to the market are considered.
  • Supplementary Market Information includes relevant data on trends, related product relationships, and general market activity.
  • Participant Price Evaluations: Where needed, we use general indications from experienced market participants to supplement transactional data.

Quotation Timing and Frequency

Publication Schedule

Farmed whitefish prices are updated and published weekly on Wednesdays at noon EST to capture timely and accurate market shifts.

Daily Data Collection Window

Data is gathered daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, capturing current trading information to feed into upcoming assessments.

 

Terminology and Definitions

Key Terms

  • Frozen: Whitefish products that have been processed and frozen, usually ex-warehouse, for distribution. 
  • Fresh: Products shipped without freezing are typically listed FOB to indicate the location at which the buyer assumes responsibility for transport.
  • Ex-warehouse: International trade (INCO) term where seller makes product available at a designated location (warehouse), and the buyer is responsible for the transportation costs. 
  • FOB (Free on Board): Reflects goods delivered to the dock, with title and risk passing to the buyer once loaded.
  • IVP (Individually Vacuum Packed) is a packaging method in which each fillet is vacuum-sealed individually to maintain freshness, minimize freezer burn, and extend shelf life.
  • Moisture-Added: This refers to frozen fillets that have been treated to retain higher moisture levels, usually 85%- 86%, for flavor and texture enhancement.
  • Chem-Free: Indicates that fillets are processed without chemical treatments, a term often applied to premium products like chem-free tilapia fillets to signal a cleaner processing method.
  • Low-Moisture: Fillets processed to contain a lower moisture content (e.g., under 84%) are standard in products like pangasius for a firmer texture.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload): A standard transaction size in the seafood industry, enabling multiple smaller shipments to share transportation costs, which aligns with realistic market values.