Alaska Pollock Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Alaska Pollock prices in Japan, the highest-cost reporting region, rose 16.7% in Q3 2026 to USD 5,600/MT from USD 4,800/MT in Q2, as record B-season surimi contracts, a global whitefish shortage, and record raw material pricing pushed prices sharply higher across all regions. Germany prices rose 16.1% to USD 5,050/MT, while China prices rose 16.8% to USD 4,250/MT. Globally, the average rose from USD 4,283/MT in Q2 to USD 4,989/MT in Q3, a 16.5% gain, following a gain of 7.2% in Q2. For H2 2026, this market is expected to stay elevated, with tight whitefish supply, higher processing costs, and lower Russian surimi output supporting a structurally higher price center.

Alaska Pollock is a wild-caught whitefish harvested mainly in the Bering Sea and Russian Far East, processed into frozen fillet blocks, head-and-gutted fish, surimi, and roe. It is the main raw material for fish fingers, fillet portions, foodservice fish, and surimi-based seafood such as crab sticks and kamaboko. Because supply depends on annual quotas, Russian and US catch volumes, and fishing season timing, this market is exposed to whitefish availability, fuel costs, and exchange rates. Catch quotas and Russian and US supply, global whitefish demand, and fuel and processing costs are what drive prices in this market.

Alaska Pollock Price Forecast for 2026

The outlook for Alaska Pollock through the end of 2026 stays elevated, with a global whitefish shortage, reduced cod quotas, lower Russian surimi output, and higher processing costs supporting prices. Industry participants do not expect a repeat of the sharp price slump seen in 2023. Contract negotiations for the coming months are likely to hinge on how feedstock costs and demand evolve.

The main upside risk is a further tightening of Russian or US supply, or additional cuts to whitefish quotas. The main downside risk is a recovery in catch volumes combined with weaker European and Asian retail demand. Buyers are expected to keep procurement plans flexible, tracking feedstock and freight conditions closely through the fourth quarter.

For the Quarter Ending September 2026

Alaska Pollock Prices Q3 2026:

• Japan: USD 5,600/MT
• Germany: USD 5,050/MT
• United States: USD 4,950/MT
• China: USD 4,250/MT

Alaska Pollock Prices in Japan

Japan Alaska Pollock prices averaged USD 5,600/MT in Q3 2026, the highest of any region tracked here, up 16.7% from USD 4,800/MT in Q2, as record B-season surimi contract prices, with Grade A surimi breaking JPY 700 per kilogram for the first time, lifted import costs. Buyers continued to absorb the higher offers, with procurement activity staying steady through September and inventories remaining broadly balanced across the supply chain.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q3 2026 in Japan?

Japan accepted the largest-ever B-season price hike for US Alaska pollock surimi, rising 25 to 35 percent from the A season, which lifted yen-denominated import prices to an all-time high. Processors and importers locked in higher contract rates, and buyers sought to secure supply early. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed, keeping price discovery active.

Alaska Pollock Prices in Germany

Germany Alaska Pollock prices averaged USD 5,050/MT in Q3 2026, up 16.1% from USD 4,350/MT in Q2, as climbing ex-warehouse fillet prices in European cold storage reflected a widespread whitefish shortage. Converters and distributors kept order books active through the quarter, accepting the firmer quotations rather than delaying purchases into the fourth quarter. Market participants continued to monitor feedstock and freight conditions closely for signs of the next directional move.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q3 2026 in Germany?

European buyers paid higher ex-warehouse prices for PBO block fillets as the whitefish shortage, reduced cod quotas, and higher fuel costs pushed prices up. Processors and importers locked in higher contract rates, and buyers sought to secure supply early. Market participants continued to monitor feedstock and freight conditions closely for signs of the next directional move.

Alaska Pollock Prices in United States

United States Alaska Pollock prices averaged USD 4,950/MT in Q3 2026, up 16.5% from USD 4,250/MT in Q2, as B-season raw material talks pushed above the historic USD 3,000 per ton level. Suppliers held offers firm while spot availability stayed limited, which kept sentiment constructive heading into the final quarter of the year. These conditions were widely expected to remain a key factor shaping offers and procurement planning into the fourth quarter.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q3 2026 in United States?

US processors negotiated B-season head-and-gutted pollock above the historic USD 3,000 per ton mark, while lower Alaskan yields and higher processing costs supported fillet and surimi prices. Processors and importers locked in higher contract rates, and buyers sought to secure supply early. These conditions were widely expected to remain a key factor shaping offers and procurement planning into the fourth quarter.

Alaska Pollock Prices in China

China Alaska Pollock prices averaged USD 4,250/MT in Q3 2026, the lowest of the four regions, up 16.8% from USD 3,640/MT in Q2, as re-processing demand and record Russian head-and-gutted prices lifted offers. Contract negotiations for the fourth quarter opened with sellers seeking further increases, reflecting the tighter cost structure that producers faced through the period.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q3 2026 in China?

Chinese re-processors paid higher prices for Russian head-and-gutted pollock, which hit new highs, and re-frozen fillet offers moved up in line with US and Russian quotations. Processors and importers locked in higher contract rates, and buyers sought to secure supply early. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed, keeping price discovery active.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Alaska Pollock Prices Q2 2026:

• Japan: USD 4,800/MT
• Germany: USD 4,350/MT
• United States: USD 4,250/MT
• China: USD 3,640/MT

Alaska Pollock Prices in Japan

Japan prices rose 6.7% in Q2 2026 to USD 4,800/MT from USD 4,500/MT in Q1, the highest of any region tracked here, as A-season surimi quotations edged higher as supply tightened. Quarter-end offers reflected the elevated cost base carried over from the first quarter, with demand holding firm and sellers reluctant to concede ground through June.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q2 2026 in Japan?

In Q2, tighter US A-season output, record Russian head-and-gutted prices, and rising demand for whitefish substitutes lifted prices, even as a brief spawning-season correction occurred in Russian fish. Japanese importers faced higher A-season surimi quotations as US production fell and Russian output declined. Market participants continued to monitor feedstock and freight conditions closely for signs of the next directional move.

Alaska Pollock Prices in Germany

Germany prices rose 7.4% in Q2 2026 to USD 4,350/MT from USD 4,050/MT in Q1, within the middle of the range tracked here, as strong European substitution demand supported fillet block prices. Quarter-end offers reflected the elevated cost base carried over from the first quarter, with demand holding firm and sellers reluctant to concede ground through June.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

In Q2, tighter US A-season output, record Russian head-and-gutted prices, and rising demand for whitefish substitutes lifted prices, even as a brief spawning-season correction occurred in Russian fish. European demand for pollock as a whitefish substitute kept ex-warehouse prices firm. These conditions were widely expected to remain a key factor shaping offers and procurement planning into the fourth quarter.

Alaska Pollock Prices in United States

United States prices rose 7.6% in Q2 2026 to USD 4,250/MT from USD 3,950/MT in Q1, within the middle of the range tracked here, as lower A-season surimi output, down 11 percent year on year, tightened supply. Quarter-end offers reflected the elevated cost base carried over from the first quarter, with demand holding firm and sellers reluctant to concede ground through June.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q2 2026 in United States?

In Q2, tighter US A-season output, record Russian head-and-gutted prices, and rising demand for whitefish substitutes lifted prices, even as a brief spawning-season correction occurred in Russian fish. US A-season surimi production fell 11 percent, which tightened supply and supported firm quotations. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed, keeping price discovery active.

Alaska Pollock Prices in China

China prices rose 7.1% in Q2 2026 to USD 3,640/MT from USD 3,400/MT in Q1, the lowest of the four regions, as Russian head-and-gutted prices corrected briefly but stayed elevated. Quarter-end offers reflected the elevated cost base carried over from the first quarter, with demand holding firm and sellers reluctant to concede ground through June.

Why did the price of Alaska Pollock change in Q2 2026 in China?

In Q2, tighter US A-season output, record Russian head-and-gutted prices, and rising demand for whitefish substitutes lifted prices, even as a brief spawning-season correction occurred in Russian fish. A short-lived correction in Russian head-and-gutted prices, caused by spawning-season yield losses, did little to change the firm trend. Market participants continued to monitor feedstock and freight conditions closely for signs of the next directional move.

Quarterly Alaska Pollock Price Trends

Global Alaska Pollock prices firmed gradually through most of 2025, before accelerating sharply in Q1 2026 as A-season supply tightened, the whitefish shortage deepened, and fuel and processing costs rose, a firmer environment that carried into Q2 and then surged to record highs on B-season contract pricing in Q3 across the regions tracked in this report.

What was Alaska Pollock Price in 2025?

Alaska Pollock firmed across the markets covered in this report through 2025, tracking tightening whitefish supply and recovering surimi demand, with the strongest annual move recorded in United States before the sharp Q1 2026 reversal and the Q3 2026 developments that followed. Market participants continued to monitor feedstock and freight conditions closely for signs of the next directional move.

Alaska Pollock Prices in Japan in 2025

Japan prices firmed from about USD 4,100/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 4,300/MT by Q4, a gain of roughly 4.9%. A tightening whitefish supply and recovering demand lifted pricing through the year. Buyers and sellers tracked tightening whitefish supply and recovering surimi demand closely through the year, and the pattern left this market positioned for the sharp Q1 2026 move that followed.

Alaska Pollock Prices in Germany in 2025

Germany prices firmed from about USD 3,700/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,850/MT by Q4, a gain of roughly 4.1%, the smallest annual move of the four regions. A tightening whitefish supply and recovering demand lifted pricing through the year. Buyers and sellers tracked tightening whitefish supply and recovering surimi demand closely through the year, and the pattern left this market positioned for the sharp Q1 2026 move that followed.

Alaska Pollock Prices in United States in 2025

United States prices firmed from about USD 3,600/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,780/MT by Q4, a gain of roughly 5.0%, the strongest annual move of the four regions. A tightening whitefish supply and recovering demand lifted pricing through the year. Buyers and sellers tracked tightening whitefish supply and recovering surimi demand closely through the year, and the pattern left this market positioned for the sharp Q1 2026 move that followed.

Alaska Pollock Prices in China in 2025

China prices firmed from about USD 3,100/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,240/MT by Q4, a gain of roughly 4.5%. A tightening whitefish supply and recovering demand lifted pricing through the year. Buyers and sellers tracked tightening whitefish supply and recovering surimi demand closely through the year, and the pattern left this market positioned for the sharp Q1 2026 move that followed.

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Expert Market Research tracks Alaska Pollock prices continuously across every major producing and consuming region, combining quota and catch data, global whitefish demand signals, and fuel and processing cost trends into a single, regularly updated view of the market. Our team can help your procurement function benchmark current offers, plan purchases around the trends covered in this report, and build a defensible view of where this wild whitefish is headed next. Reach out to our team for a tailored briefing or a deeper look at any of the regional markets covered here.