Market Report- Shellfish

Scallop prices on the rise

By April Forristall, SeafoodSource assistant editor

12 February, 2009 - Scallop prices have been level for a while, but bitter winter weather forced U.S. East Coast scallopers to stay shoreside in early and mid-January, resulting in limited supply and an expected price hike.

“Expect prices of domestics to go up for the next six to eight weeks,” says one East Coast supplier in late January. “Across the board prices are going to be going up.”

Prices of imported product from places such as Japan, China and South America will also be on the rise in the coming months.

“South American [product] is pretty much on the same level as Chinese products for people who are importing,” says the supplier. “China is the lowest common denominator.”

And buyers can expect prices to stay high until the summer months near. Domestic prices are traditionally at their lowest for Fourth of July celebrations, once boats have been bringing in catches for two months.

In late January, prices for dry sea scallops in the United States were about USD 8, and in the USD 5 to 5.50 range for processed product. Dry bay scallops were going for USD 2 to 3, and in the USD 1.70 range for processed product. 

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