Flounder Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Japan paid the most for flounder in Q3 2026: USD 11.20/KG, up 1.5% from USD 11.03/KG in Q2. Import costs, high labor costs and steady demand from restaurants and sushi makers keep Japanese prices above the other three markets. Worldwide, the average rose 1.4% to USD 8.25/KG from USD 8.14/KG, mostly because higher feed and labor costs and firm demand from restaurants and retailers led farms and importers to raise prices in all four markets. What about Q4 2026? We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 8.04-8.70/KG range, with feed costs, catch and farm output, demand from restaurants and sushi makers and freight costs doing most of the work.

Flounder is a flatfish that lives on the sea floor and is caught wild or raised on farms, as with olive flounder in China and South Korea. It has a mild, delicate flavor and is sold fresh, frozen and as fillets for restaurants and retailers. Prices in this report refer to whole fresh and chilled flounder at wholesale level and are quoted per kilogram. They depend on feed costs, catch and farm output and demand from restaurants and retailers.

China and South Korea are the largest farm producers of olive flounder, and wild catch comes from the United States, Russia, Europe and Japan. Farms raise fish in tanks for 12 to 18 months before sale. Fresh fish ship live or chilled to nearby markets, and frozen fillets travel further. Japan and South Korea are large consumers, partly as sashimi.

Flounder Price Forecast for 2026

Prices should rise modestly through the rest of 2026. Feed and labor costs are firm and demand from restaurants and retailers is steady. Large farm output in China limits the size of the increase. A year ago the global average was USD 7.89/KG, and the latest quarter, at USD 8.25/KG, is 4.6% higher.

Risks to the Q4 outlook lean in both directions, with no clear bias. What could push prices higher? Disease outbreaks on farms, lower wild catch, higher feed costs or stronger restaurant demand would lift prices. What could pull them lower? Larger farm output, lower feed costs or weaker demand from restaurants would lower prices.

For the Quarter Ending September 2026

Flounder Prices Q3 2026:

• China: USD 4.30/KG
• South Korea: USD 8.10/KG
• United States: USD 9.40/KG
• Japan: USD 11.20/KG

Flounder Prices in China

The Q3 2026 average for China stood at USD 4.30/KG, an increase of 1.7% on the USD 4.23/KG recorded in Q2. Chinese prices rose as the demand from restaurants and processors improved. Against the USD 4.09/KG recorded in Q3 2025, the current average represents a 5.1% increase. Relative to the four-market average of USD 8.25/KG, China traded 47.9% below in Q3 2026.

Why did the price of Flounder change in Q3 2026 in China?

China rose. Demand from restaurants and processors improved, feed costs increased, and farms raised prices. From USD 4.14/KG at the close of 2025 to USD 4.30/KG in Q3 2026, the price in China has risen 3.9%, and the global average has risen 3.3%. The global average shifted 1.4% higher in the same quarter.

Flounder Prices in South Korea

South Korea registered a 1.2% increase in Q3 2026, taking the average to USD 8.10/KG from USD 8.00/KG in Q2. Korean prices rose as the demand from restaurants improved. The Q3 2025 average of USD 7.76/KG puts the current price 4.4% above its level a year earlier. This places South Korea 1.8% below the four-market average of USD 8.25/KG for Q3 2026.

Why did the price of Flounder change in Q3 2026 in South Korea?

South Korea rose. Demand from restaurants improved, feed costs increased, and farms raised offers. Across the first three quarters of 2026, South Korea has moved up 3.2% from USD 7.85/KG in Q4 2025 to USD 8.10/KG, against a 3.3% gain for the global average. Across the four markets the average was 1.4% higher on the quarter.

Flounder Prices in United States

The United States firmed 1.2% to USD 9.40/KG in Q3 2026, from USD 9.29/KG in Q2. American prices rose as the demand from restaurants and retailers improved. Year on year, the average is 3.9% higher, against USD 9.05/KG in Q3 2025. Against the four-market average of USD 8.25/KG, the United States stood 13.9% above in the quarter.

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

The United States rose. Demand from restaurants and retailers improved, import costs increased, and importers raised prices. Year to date, the United States is 2.8% higher than the Q4 2025 level of USD 9.14/KG, while the global average is 3.3% higher. On the global measure the average was 1.4% higher over the quarter.

Flounder Prices in Japan

In Q3 2026, the average price in Japan rose 1.5% to USD 11.20/KG, compared with USD 11.03/KG in Q2. Japanese prices rose as the demand from restaurants and sushi makers improved. The current level is 5.0% above the Q3 2025 average of USD 10.67/KG. Japan finished Q3 2026 35.8% above the four-market average of USD 8.25/KG.

Why did the price of Flounder change in Q3 2026 in Japan?

Japan rose. Demand from restaurants and sushi makers improved, import costs increased, and importers raised prices. Over the first nine months of 2026 the price in Japan has risen by 3.4%, which compares with a 3.3% gain in the global average. For comparison, the global average moved 1.4% higher over the same quarter.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Flounder Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 4.23/KG
• South Korea: USD 8.00/KG
• United States: USD 9.29/KG
• Japan: USD 11.03/KG

Flounder Prices in China

In Q2 2026, the average price in China rose 1.2% to USD 4.23/KG, compared with USD 4.18/KG in Q1. Chinese prices rose as the demand from processors strengthened. The Q2 2026 average is 6.0% above the USD 3.99/KG recorded in Q2 2025. China ended the quarter 48.0% below the group average of USD 8.14/KG.

Why did the price of Flounder change in Q2 2026 in China?

China rose. Demand from processors strengthened, feed costs went up, and farms lifted prices. This followed a 1.0% gain in Q1 and left China 6.0% above its Q2 2025 average of USD 3.99/KG. The move then extended in Q3, taking the price to USD 4.30/KG. For comparison, the global average moved 1.1% higher over the same quarter.

Flounder Prices in South Korea

South Korea's average moved up 1.0% in Q2 2026, to USD 8.00/KG from USD 7.92/KG in Q1. Korean prices rose as the demand from restaurants strengthened. Compared with Q2 2025, when South Korea averaged USD 7.61/KG, the current price is 5.1% higher. The price in South Korea was 1.7% below the group average of USD 8.14/KG in Q2 2026.

Why did the price of Flounder change in Q2 2026 in South Korea?

South Korea rose. Demand from restaurants strengthened, labor costs went up, and farms lifted offers. After a 0.9% gain in Q1, the quarter closed 5.1% above the USD 7.61/KG recorded in Q2 2025. The same direction continued in Q3, with the price reaching USD 8.10/KG. The global average shifted 1.1% higher in the same quarter.

Flounder Prices in United States

Prices in the United States firmed 0.9% in Q2 2026 to USD 9.29/KG, compared with USD 9.21/KG in Q1. American prices rose as the demand from restaurants strengthened. Measured against Q2 2025, when the average stood at USD 8.91/KG, the market is 4.3% higher. The gap to the four-market average of USD 8.14/KG was 14.1% above for the United States.

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

The United States rose. Demand from restaurants strengthened, labor costs went up, and importers lifted prices. This came on top of a 0.8% gain in Q1, and the average ended 4.3% above its level of a year earlier, when it stood at USD 8.91/KG. Q3 added to the change, with the price at USD 9.40/KG.

Flounder Prices in Japan

Japan recorded a 1.1% gain in Q2 2026, with the average reaching USD 11.03/KG against USD 10.91/KG in Q1. Japanese prices rose as the demand from restaurants strengthened. In Q2 2025 the average was USD 10.43/KG, so the market is 5.8% higher on a yearly basis. Relative to the four-market average of USD 8.14/KG, Japan traded 35.5% above in Q2 2026.

Why did the price of Flounder change in Q2 2026 in Japan?

Japan rose. Demand from restaurants strengthened, labor costs went up, and importers lifted prices. Q1 had brought a 0.7% gain, and by the end of Q2 the price was 5.8% above the Q2 2025 average of USD 10.43/KG. The move then extended in Q3, taking the price to USD 11.20/KG. On the global measure the average was 1.1% higher over the quarter.

Quarterly Flounder Price Trends

Flounder prices rose through 2025 and the first half of 2026 and rose again in the third quarter in all four markets. The global average moved from USD 7.60/KG in Q1 2025 to 7.74 in Q2, 7.89 in Q3 and 7.99 in Q4, then 8.05 in Q1 2026, 8.14 in Q2 and 8.25 in Q3, a net gain of roughly 8.6% across the window. Higher feed and labor costs and steady demand from restaurants and retailers lifted prices for six quarters.

What was Flounder Price in 2025?

2025 was a year of steady increases for flounder, with prices rising in each quarter in all four markets. Starting near USD 7.60/KG in Q1, the global average finished the year at 7.99 in Q4, a gain of about 5.1%. Higher feed and labor costs and steady demand from restaurants and retailers supported farms throughout the year.

Flounder Prices in China in 2025

In China, prices moved from about USD 3.91/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 4.14/KG by Q4, up roughly 5.9%. Chinese prices rose steadily as feed costs and demand from processors increased. At USD 4.30/KG in Q3 2026, China stands 3.9% above its Q4 2025 close. The same regional pattern is carried into the quarterly analysis above, where the quarter-by-quarter figures can be traced.

Flounder Prices in South Korea in 2025

In South Korea, prices moved from about USD 7.48/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 7.85/KG by Q4, up roughly 4.9%. Korean prices rose gradually as the labor costs and demand from restaurants increased. The Q4 2025 close of USD 7.85/KG compares with USD 8.10/KG in Q3 2026, a 3.2% increase. The quarterly sections above show how the annual average developed over the year.

Flounder Prices in United States in 2025

In the United States, prices moved from about USD 8.79/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 9.14/KG by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. American prices rose gradually as the labor costs and demand from restaurants increased. Relative to the end of 2025, the price in the United States is 2.8% higher at USD 9.40/KG. The quarterly breakdown above allows each stage of that path to be traced.

Flounder Prices in Japan in 2025

In Japan, prices moved from about USD 10.21/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 10.83/KG by Q4, up roughly 6.1%. Japanese prices rose steadily as the labor costs and demand from restaurants increased. By Q3 2026 the average for Japan had reached USD 11.20/KG, 3.4% above the Q4 2025 close. The same regional pattern is carried into the quarterly analysis above, where the quarter-by-quarter figures can be traced.

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We keep a continuous eye on flounder prices wherever it is produced or consumed at scale, tracing causation through feed costs, farm output, wild catch, disease outbreaks, freight and demand from restaurants and retailers. Our forecasts draw on production data, trade flows, input cost trends and demand indicators across all reporting regions, so subscribers see why a price moved and not just that it did. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.