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High Raw Material Costs Propel US Cod and Haddock Prices Despite Sluggish Demand
UNITED STATES
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 06:10 (GMT + 9)
Cost-Push Pressures Maintain Market Strength in Early 2026
Entering 2026, the US wholesale market for cod and haddock is characterized by limited trading volumes and remarkably resilient prices. According to a report by Food World Beijing, the current market stability is being fueled by high raw material costs rather than a surge in end-consumer demand, which remains relatively flat following the holiday season.
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Frozen Product Markets Face "Price Stickiness"
During the second week of January (January 5th to 11th), the US market saw a slow trading pace. Buyers are currently operating on an "as-needed" basis, yet sellers are refusing to budge on quotes due to the high cost of upstream supplies.
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Single-Frozen Products: Prices for Alaskan cod fillets across all sizes remained unchanged. Similarly, Icelandic cod and haddock maintained their premium price points.
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Re-Frozen Products: Products processed in China have seen incremental hikes. The price of Atlantic cod loin rose by $0.10 per pound, while Atlantic cod fillets and IQF (individually frozen) products saw increases of approximately $0.05 per pound.
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Haddock: Re-frozen IQF products processed in China also climbed by $0.05 per pound, signaling that the category remains a stable but expensive staple in the white fish sector.
IQF Skinless Boneless Fillets | Alaskan Leader Cod | Alaskan Leader Seafood
Global Supply Constraints and Quota Impacts
The strength of the market is primarily anchored by the record-high costs of raw materials at the end of 2025. Several geopolitical and environmental factors are tightening the global net:
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Supply Shortages: Headless and viscerated (H&G) Atlantic cod entering China from the Barents Sea is hovering near historical price highs.
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Regulatory Pressures: Tighter fishing quotas for 2026, coupled with ongoing sanctions and access disputes involving Russia and Norway, have severely limited anticipated supply.
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The Canadian Factor: While Canada saw a recovery in North Atlantic cod resources in 2025, leading to increased quotas and exports, industry experts suggest this boost is still insufficient to offset the global deficit.
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Market Outlook
The Pacific cod market currently mirrors this cautious stability, with prices for loins and cut pieces remaining flat. Sellers, facing high replacement costs, have little incentive to discount their inventory.
As we move further into 2026, the US wholesale market is expected to remain at these elevated levels. While "re-frozen" products may see further slight increases to absorb processing and transport costs, the trajectory of the market will ultimately hinge on whether raw material prices soften or downstream consumer demand finally begins to recover.
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