China’s scallop export sector staged a robust recovery in June 2026, reversing the decline seen in May and returning monthly export volumes to the higher levels recorded earlier this year. The export network covered 21 destination countries, unchanged from the previous month, though the country list saw minor adjustments—Ukraine and Indonesia emerged as new markets, while Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates temporarily dropped off.
Processed Products Drive the Rebound
The core driver of this rebound came from the deep-processed segment. Exports of prepared or preserved scallops rose in both volume and value, expanding their share of total scallop export value while unit prices simultaneously increased. In contrast, frozen scallop export values declined, creating a clear substitution effect between the two categories.
This structural shift is not a short-term fluctuation but rather a continuing trend that has shaped China’s scallop export landscape over the past six months, reflecting an extension of the processing chain toward higher value-added segments.
Japan Leads, Traditional Markets Remain Steady
Japan maintained its position as China’s largest scallop export market, with processed products being the primary category shipped to the country. The Japanese market has demonstrated stable demand for ready-to-eat and prepared scallop products, with no significant slowdown observed in procurement rhythms from importers and foodservice channels.
Traditional markets including the United States, South Korea, and Canada also remained stable, forming the bedrock of China’s scallop export business. While the newly opened Ukrainian and Indonesian markets recorded relatively small monthly export volumes, the establishment of these trade channels is noteworthy in itself. Ukraine’s emergence fills a gap in the European direction to some extent, while Indonesia represents a new incremental point within the ASEAN region.
A Notable Shift: “Other Frozen Scallop Mollusks” Surge
One particularly noteworthy development is the concentrated volume surge in the category of “other frozen scallop mollusks” in June, which jumped to become the second-largest export category by value. This sudden expansion in this category drove the overall recovery in export volumes while simultaneously diluting the share of traditional frozen scallops.
This product category is classified under a separate HS code from traditional frozen scallops and covers a broader range of species. Whether the volume surge in recent months reflects increased捕捞 yields in relevant production areas or the release of new production capacity remains to be verified in the coming months.
Scallop Seed and Dried Scallops Decline
In contrast, scallop seed exports contracted sharply in June, falling from the elevated levels seen in previous months. While seed exports are characterized by pronounced seasonality, making fluctuations unsurprising, the magnitude of June’s decline was significant. This may reflect a combination of post-planting-season cyclical factors and adjustments in procurement timing from the downstream farming sector. Dried scallop exports also narrowed, with both volume and price declining, contrasting with the trends observed in fresh/frozen and processed products.
Provincial Export Landscape
The provincial export pattern continued the concentration characteristics seen in the first half of the year. Shandong maintained the largest share of total export volume, leveraging its processing industry clusters and port logistics advantages, giving Shandong-based companies strong delivery capabilities in processed product exports. Liaoning and Hebei, as core scallop-producing regions around the Bohai Sea, have solid raw material supply and primary processing foundations.
A notable change this month was Beijing’s entry into the list of exporting provinces, while Jiangsu and Hainan temporarily exited. Beijing-based companies’ participation may reflect adjustments in export qualifications or order transfers among traders.
Price Divergence Across Categories
Price trends showed clear divergence across product categories. Processed product average prices rose month-over-month, indicating enhanced pricing power for high-value-added products in overseas markets. Frozen scallop average prices declined, as traditional frozen products faced competitive pressure from new categories and lower-priced products from other producing regions. The bulk volume surge of “other frozen scallop mollusks” at relatively lower price points pulled down the overall weighted average export price. Although scallop seed unit prices retreated from their highs, their absolute level remained far above edible scallop products—a function of the seed’s inherent price characteristics rather than the same pricing dynamics as edible products.
Market Outlook
The global scallop market is undergoing notable shifts. Vietnam’s scallop exports reached nearly $66 million in 2025, up 49% from 2024, with the first two months of 2026 seeing $18.1 million in exports, a 166% year-on-year increase. Japan has emerged as Vietnam’s largest buyer, with imports of approximately $14 million, a 173% year-on-year surge.
Meanwhile, Japan’s own scallop production is projected to decline further by 15% in 2026. In May 2026, Japan’s scallop exports reached 3,845 tons, down 7% year-on-year, while export value grew 13% to 5.779 billion yen (approximately $35.8 million). Frozen scallop adductor exports reached 1,019 tons, down 11% year-on-year, but export value grew 29% to 3.691 billion yen (approximately $22.8 million). With Hokkaido scallop production continuing to decline, supply-demand balance in both Japan’s domestic and export markets is expected to remain tight, suggesting limited room for global scallop price declines in the near term.
For international buyers seeking reliable frozen scallop suppliers, China’s export sector offers a diversified product portfolio—from traditional frozen scallops to value-added processed products—backed by an established processing infrastructure and stable supply chains across multiple provinces. The continued expansion into new markets such as Ukraine and Indonesia further demonstrates the sector’s adaptability and growth potential in an evolving global trade landscape.
