Week 25 Squid Prices Fluctuate as Supply-Demand Game IntensifiesWeekly Market Summary (June 14-20, 2025)

According to data from Zhejiang Zhoushan International Agricultural Products Trade Center, squid prices showed overall volatility in Week 25, with the market maintaining stability amid intensified supply-demand dynamics.

1. Southeast Pacific Squid: Prices Stabilize, Trading Volume Shrinks

• Price & Transaction Trends:

  Settlement prices for various specifications fluctuated slightly, with an average of about 18,562 yuan/ton. Notable changes included a 304 yuan/ton drop in slices, 53 yuan/ton in tail fins, and 131 yuan/ton in large whole squid, while heads, medium whole squid, and squid mouths saw slight increases. Trading volume fell to 5,530 tons, with small-sized squid (under 1,000g) accounting for 74.5% of transactions.

• Comprehensive Quotes:

  Quotes showed mixed trends: heads, tail tips, and squid necks dropped by 500-750 yuan/ton, while tail fins surged by 1,350 yuan/ton.

• Output Impact:

  Peru’s government halted squid fishing nationwide on June 20 due to reaching the maximum allowable catch of 304,209 tons, triggering significant price volatility. Domestic fishing (oceanic fishing) yields increased, with single-vessel catches averaging 1,000-1,050 tons since late last year.

2. Southwest Atlantic Squid (Offshore): Stable Transactions, Minor Price Fluctuations

• Trading Data:

  Zhejiang Agricultural Center recorded 100 tons in transactions, focusing on medium-small specifications （under 300g), with an average settlement price of 34,830 yuan/ton, unchanged from the prior week.

• Output Update:

  Argentina’s exclusive economic zone fishing season ended on June 10, with total landings expected to exceed 200,000 tons. Chinese offshore fleets showed strong performance, with single-vessel yields: squid jiggers (400 tons), large trawlers (1,600-1,700 tons), and small trawlers (850-900 tons).

3. Northwest Pacific & Indian Ocean Squid

• Northwest Pacific:

  Transactions hit 87 tons at an average 23,614 yuan/ton, with 500-1,000g squid dropping by 850 yuan/ton. Quotes remained stable.

• Indian Ocean:

  No transactions were recorded, with quotes unchanged.

4. Processed Products Market: Frozen Prices Steady, Cooked Products Decline

• Frozen Products (Shidao Area):

  Prices stayed unchanged, e.g., Argentina squid skewers (43,000-46,000 yuan/ton) and Peruvian squid flowers (24,000-27,000 yuan/ton).

• Cooked Products (Longkou Area):

  Prices fell slightly after a drop in early June, e.g., grilled squid strips dropped by 2.27%, and hand-shredded squid slices by 4.0%.

5. Import & Market Outlook

• Import Volume:

  Zhoushan’s offshore self-caught squid imports fell week-on-week, with Q2 imports expected to drop significantly from Q1.

• Market Analysis:

  The market is in structural volatility as buyers lower price expectations and sellers hold back due to low-price resistance. Short-term prices may remain unstable. While supply is currently sufficient, fishing closures in Argentina and Peru, plus delayed resource replenishment in the Northwest Pacific and Indian Ocean, could disrupt global supply. Industry advice: monitor fishing dynamics and policies, and optimize procurement and inventory.

Source: Zhejiang Zhoushan International Agricultural Products Trade Center, Weihai International Marine Commodity Trading Center.