The 2025–2026 Argentine Red Shrimp season has opened on solid footing, with cumulative landings surpassing 72,000 metric tons in the first 100 days since the November 15 start. Early season performance confirms healthy biological conditions and steady resource availability across key fishing grounds.

November delivered approximately 15,000 MT in just 15 fishing days, December peaked near 28,000 MT, and January followed with roughly 26,000 MT. Together, these figures reflect strong mid-summer production and consistent catch rates. As expected, February volumes have begun to ease, aligning with the typical seasonal softening that occurs toward late summer.



Looking at the broader picture, 2025 registered one of the lower calendar-year harvest totals of the past five years. However, total production was only about 20,000 MT below the five-year average — a relatively modest deviation that reinforces stable long-term supply fundamentals rather than signaling structural decline.

Operational Disruption Shifts the Risk Profile
While biomass remains healthy and Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) levels continue to support ongoing fishing activity, the risk factor has shifted from resource availability to operations. Argentina is currently facing a nationwide strike linked to labor reform legislation. Maritime unions have halted vessel departures, and processing workers have shut down plants, temporarily paralyzing production and export activity during a key commercial window.

This disruption affects logistics more than supply. Fishing grounds remain productive, but raw material cannot move efficiently through the processing and export chain while labor actions persist. The duration of the disruption will depend on political negotiations and union responses in the coming days.

Global Market Implications
For global markets, this represents an operational bottleneck rather than a supply collapse. The strike constrains Argentina’s ability to process and ship product, creating short-term export delays instead of a raw material shortage.

In the near term, prompt availability into major destination markets such as the EU and China may tighten, particularly for onshore processed HOSO, P&D, and larger sizes. Buyers seeking immediate coverage could place upward pressure on spot prices as shipment flow slows. Container delays and plant shutdowns may impact Q1 arrival volumes.

If the labor dispute resolves quickly and March fishing continues at supportive CPUE levels, global supply should rebalance and pricing pressure ease into late Q1 and early Q2. However, a prolonged disruption would extend lead times, firm global prices, and potentially create substitution opportunities for Ecuadorian shrimp and other competing origins in both retail and foodservice channels.

Buyer Strategy
For buyers, the appropriate response is disciplined rather than reactive. Biological supply remains intact, and there is no indication of structural production decline. Securing a portion of near-term requirements to hedge against logistical uncertainty is prudent, but aggressive over-coverage could create risk if operations normalize quickly.



Close monitoring of CPUE trends, fleet departures, and processing plant restart timelines will be critical in determining Q2 price direction and overall market balance.

In summary, Argentine Red Shrimp fundamentals remain strong at sea — but for now, the market is being shaped on land.

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