U.S. seafood sales continued to rise in the first half of 2026, though growth was primarily price-driven as volumes declined across fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable categories. Longer term, the U.S. seafood market is projected to grow at a 3.4% CAGR through 2030, supported by premiumization, value-added products, evolving consumer preferences, and expanded production capacity.

Seafood Industry – H1 2026 Key Trends

• Seafood dollar sales increased across fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable products, but volumes declined, underscoring the impact of pricing inflation. Shelf-stable seafood led sales growth, rising 12.6% year over year through June.
• Consumers are increasingly seeking convenient, protein-rich seafood options, fueling demand for canned, frozen, ready-to-eat, and other value-added formats.
• Tariffs, trade disruption, MMPA import restrictions, and additional traceability requirements are reshaping sourcing and supply chains, particularly for import-dependent categories such as shrimp and tilapia.
• M&A activity remains concentrated in distribution and value-added processing, as buyers pursue scale, regional reach, and greater control of supply chains amid persistent cost and raw-material volatility.