The 2025 fishing season for Argentine squid (Illex argentinus) within Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has concluded with official statistics showing total landings exceeding 185,000 metric tons—marking the best harvest in 12 years. With unaccounted catches still onboard some frozen squid trawlers, final figures are expected to climb higher.​

According to Technical Report No. 22/2025 released by the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), hook-and-line fleets contributed 162,154 tons of the total catch, averaging 21 tons per day. Notably, 56% of the harvest was concentrated in waters south of 44° South Latitude, establishing this area as the season's prime fishing ground. Trawler operations supplemented the catch, pushing the cumulative yield past the 185,000-ton threshold.

Global Market Price Implications

Squid prices remain inherently tied to supply-demand dynamics. Recent climatic anomalies, such as rising sea temperatures in South Korean waters, have caused domestic squid catches to plummet—driving prices up by over 40% in a single month last November. Similarly, a rare harvest failure of Pacific squid (Tokyo squid) in Japanese waters sent prices soaring to double-year levels, with global supply shortages inflating import costs across markets.

This season’s Argentine bumper crop is poised to rebalance global supply chains. Short-term forecasts indicate downward pressure on international prices for Argentine shortfin squid and processed products. Import-reliant nations like South Korea and Japan may see relief from supply crunches, with more affordable squid products expected to reach consumers. Long-term, the surplus is set to recalibrate market equilibriums, stabilizing prices while offering processing enterprises opportunities to reduce raw material costs—reverberating through the entire squid value chain.