In September, the U.S. retail seafood market saw a recovery after months of sluggish sales, with shelf-stable seafood and frozen shrimp leading the gains. Fresh seafood sales grew slightly in value (0.2%) and volume (0.6%), reaching USD 611 million. Frozen seafood sales declined by 0.3% in value but saw a 2.1% rise in volume.
Shelf-stable seafood experienced the largest gains, with a 1.8% increase in value and an 8.6% increase in volume, helped by a 6.2% drop in average prices. Frozen shrimp and salmon prices dropped, leading to higher sales volumes, though frozen shrimp values fell 3.8%.
Despite some declines in fresh seafood prices, fresh shrimp sales saw a slight value increase (0.2%) and a larger volume rise (3%). Fresh trout and cod sales saw notable gains in both value and volume, while fresh salmon and crab experienced declines.
Frozen finfish, including salmon and pollock, performed better than frozen shrimp, with increases in both sales value and volume for salmon.