Restaurants and some retailers are backing away from fresh mahi this summer with limited supply and skyrocketing wholesale prices.
“There is no mahi,” said a Southeast U.S. wholesaler and importer. “I’ve never seen mahi as tight as it is, or as high-priced.” Problems started when the El Nino weather pattern slowed production in Mexico and made the fish difficult to source. Now, buyers face record-high prices until the mahi season in Central America and South America starts in late September.
The average wholesale price for 20-pound mahi is USD 7.25 (EUR 5.43) to USD 8.25 (EUR 6.18) per pound H&G, while fillets are ranging from USD 12 to (EUR 8.98) USD 12.50 (EUR 9.36) per pound wholesale.
“Mahi has surpassed the price of swordfish, tuna, and nearly everything. It’s not good for the industry at all; it’s on everyone’s menus,” the importer said. As a result of pricing and availability, many restaurants have stopped featuring mahi and are instead serving swordfish and other fish.
While the fresh market is tight, frozen fillets are plentiful, rebounding from short supply and high prices two seasons ago.
“We have plenty of fillets,” said a U.S. wholesaler and processor. “This year, prices have actually come down to reasonable levels. A lot of the people who got burned two years ago when prices were high, didn’t buy mahi again.”
Individually vacuum-packed mahi fillets are averaging USD 3.50 (EUR 2.62) to USD 4.25 (EUR 3.18) a pound wholesale for 1 to 3 pounds, skin on. Four-ounce portions are wholesaling for around USD 4.50 (EUR 3.37) per pound.
At the same time, frozen mahi portions are tight this year. “There is a shortage of portions. We didn’t put up as many portions as we could have,” the processor said.
Individually vacuum-packed portions are retailing for an average of USD 5.95 (EUR 4.45) per pound for 6-ounce to 8-ounce portions.
Despite higher prices, the demand for mahi portions and fillets from both retail and foodservice grows every year. “It is a very consistent protein and has a good marketing name. You can throw it on the grill or fry it,” the processor said.
