Week 34 2025 Squid Market: Peruvian Squid Steady, Small Argentine Up

In Week 34 of 2025 (August 15 - August 21), affected by differences in supply and demand across global sea areas, adjustments to fishing policies, and fluctuations in consumer demand, the international squid market showed a pattern of "regional differentiation and category-specific changes". According to monitoring data from the Zhejiang Agricultural Center, significant differences were observed in the prices, transaction volumes, and industrial dynamics of squid from the Southeast Pacific (Peruvian squid), Southwest Atlantic (Argentine squid), and Northwest Pacific & Indian Ocean, with core categories demonstrating distinct performance trends.

I. Southeast Pacific Squid (Peruvian Giant Squid): Stable Prices, Rising Volume, & Specification Differentiation

As a core category in the market, the overall price of Peruvian giant squid stabilized this week, while the performance of products with different specifications diverged. Transaction volume rose slightly, and coupled with adjustments to origin quotas, the supply-demand relationship became increasingly clear.

1. Price & Transaction Volume

   • Average settlement price: Approximately RMB 19,557/ton, unchanged from last week;

   • Total transaction volume: 2,855 tons, up 5% month-on-month, indicating increased market trading activity;

   • Specification differentiation:

     • Under pressure: Prices of medium-sized whole squid and large-sized whole squid decreased by RMB 308/ton and RMB 94/ton respectively; prices of squid with large heads, extra-small whole squid, and squid slices dropped significantly due to concentrated vessel returns and sufficient supply;

     • Bucking the trend: Prices of extra-extra-small squid and squid tail fins rose slightly, supported by end-user demand.

2. Transaction Structure

   
   

   Small-sized products dominated transactions: Extra-small whole squid (833 tons) and small whole squid (731 tons) together accounted for 55% of the total transaction volume, reflecting stronger market preference for small-sized Peruvian squid.

3. Origin Dynamics

   • Peru’s Marine Research Institute (IMARPE) increased the annual fishing quota to 504,000 tons; currently, the remaining quota stands at 82,026 tons, and the first-phase fishing operation has officially started;

   • High-seas operations remained stable: Since November 2024, the average yield per vessel has stabilized at 1,200-1,250 tons, ensuring sufficient supply in the later period.

II. Southwest Atlantic Squid (Argentine Squid): Rising Prices for Small Sizes, Fishing Nearing End

Driven by summer catering demand, Argentine squid prices performed well this week, with small-sized products seeing significant gains. On the fishing side, operations are winding down due to seasonal factors and policies, leading to expected tighter supply.

1. Price & Transaction Volume

   • Average settlement price: RMB 34,559/ton, with a total transaction volume of 101 tons;

   • Small sizes leading gains: Prices of 100-150g, 150-200g, and 200-300g categories all increased by RMB 500/ton, becoming the "main drivers of price growth" this week.

2. Fishing Progress

   • Fishing in Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has officially ended, with only Loligo squid fishing in the Falkland Islands continuing;

   • China’s voluntary fishing moratorium in the high seas of the Southwest Atlantic (effective since July 1) is still in place, which will further reduce fishing volume in the short term and may support prices in the later period.

III. Northwest Pacific & Indian Ocean Squid: No Transactions, Stable Prices

This week, the Zhejiang Agricultural Center did not record any transaction data for squid in this region. Quotations for products of all specifications remained consistent with the previous period, and the market was generally in a "wait-and-see state". This phenomenon may be related to the fact that the current fishing season has not yet entered its peak period and market circulation volume is low; future attention should be paid to fishing progress and supply-demand changes.

IV. Market Summary & Outlook

Sea Area/Category	Core Feature This Week	Key Focus for the Future
Southeast Pacific (Peru)	Stable prices, rising volume, specification differentiation	Supply volume in the new fishing phase; whether prices of medium/large sizes can stabilize
Southwest Atlantic (Argentina)	Rising prices for small sizes, fishing ending	Support for prices from supply contraction
Northwest Pacific & Indian Ocean	No transactions, stable prices	Start time of the fishing peak and circulation volume

For enterprises in the industrial chain, it is necessary to closely track fishing dynamics and changes in specification demand across different sea areas, and adjust procurement and inventory strategies rationally to respond to market fluctuations.