Japan’s seafood exports in July 2026 showed mixed results, with a sharp decrease in volume but an increase in value compared to the same period last year.
According to trade data from the Japanese Ministry of Finance, total seafood exports, including fresh seafood, processed products, and fishmeal, reached 38,597 tons, a decrease of 35%, while the value reached 30.53 billion yen, an increase of 15%.
The scallop group continued to face pressure as exports decreased by 33% to 3,849 tons, with value falling 10% to 6.15 billion yen. Specifically, frozen shelled scallop exports decreased by 32% to 856 tons, while value declined slightly by 2% to 3.88 billion yen.
Conversely, yellowtail recorded positive growth. Exports of yellowtail fillets increased by 34% to 1,242 tons, while the value increased by 77%, reaching 4.21 billion yen. Live yellowtail was entirely exported to South Korea, with volume increasing by 75% to 116 tons and value increasing by 69%.
Exports of live sea bream to South Korea decreased by 14% in volume and 7% in value. Meanwhile, frozen mackerel exports increased by 14% in volume to 16,278 tons, but the value surged by 83%, reaching 4.25 billion yen.
Exports of some tuna products saw significant declines. Frozen skipjack tuna decreased by 83% in volume and 77% in value; frozen longfin tuna decreased by 90% and 85%, respectively. Conversely, exports of frozen pollock increased 3.1 times in volume and 4.1 times in value, reaching 1,773 tons and 311 million yen.
The developments in July showed a clear differentiation in the structure of Japan’s seafood exports across product groups, with export values increasing in some items despite a decline in overall production.
