Hokkaido Frozen Scallop (Hotate Adductor, raw/sashimi grade)

Hokkaido Hotate (北海道ほたて) · Hokkaido (Okhotsk, Saroma, Funka Bay) & Aomori (Mutsu Bay)
Meat & Seafood Scallop Frozen Established export

Japan's single biggest agri-export item by value — large, sweet, single-frozen adductor muscle, much of it raw/sashimi grade. After China's Aug-2023 total ban removed the #1 buyer, producers re-routed shelling to Vietnam/Thailand/Mexico and pushed direct-to-US, lifting the US share to ~28%. China's partial lift began mid-2025 with first Hokkaido shipments resuming late-2025/2026 — a fragile, politically reversible thaw.

The supplierHokkaido fishery cooperatives (Gyoren / JF coops) and major processors; world-leading scallop supply from Okhotsk, Saroma, Funka Bay (plus Aomori Mutsu Bay). Large MSC-certified fisheries and high-volume IQF processing lines; Japan's #1 seafood export item.
Why it sells abroadSashimi-grade sweetness, IQF count-graded consistency, MSC sustainability credential — Japan's #1 export seafood with the strongest supply story.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsMSC certification (confirmed): the Hokkaido scallop fishery (Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations / Gyoren) was MSC-certified on 13 May 2013 — the world's largest scallop harvest, exported to the EU, US and SE Asia. EU-approved establishment numbers / HACCP / FSSC 22000 / China-destination plant registrations: typical at major plants but not publicly verified per-plant here.
Pack formatsIQF adductor muscle graded by count (e.g. 2S/S/M/L/2L, count-per-lb); 1kg poly bags ×10/case = 10kg; also retail packs.
Shelf lifeFrozen: ~18-24 months at -18°C or below (typical).
StorageFrozen -18°C or below.
Minimum orderTypical: FCL reefer; partial/LCL via consolidators for smaller buyers.
Lead timeTypical: 2-4 weeks incl. seafood export health certificate / catch documentation.
CapacityTypical: very high — flagship Japanese seafood export with industrial IQF capacity.
Container loadTypical: frozen reefer 20ft (~10-12t)/40ft (~26-28t).
PricingEstimate: Typical $12-30/kg FOB by size grade (large counts command premium).
OEM / private labelPrivate-label/processing available (grading, packing, retail packs to spec).
Wholesale & MOQBulk IQF adductor in frozen reefer containers (container-scale MOQ); single-freeze technique preserves raw-edible quality. New North-America JV processors expand US supply.
Key exporters & distributorsMaruha Nichiro, Nissui, Gyoren / Hokuren coops, North-America scallop JV processors
Export regulationEU: DG SANTE TRACES-listed establishment + competent-authority health certificate; bivalve sanitary classification (biotoxin/microbiological monitoring). China ban (10 prefectures incl. Fukushima still excluded) requires Chinese facility re-registration. Post-Fukushima radiation testing/documentation underpins market re-entry.
Market demandJapan's #1 seafood export; broad demand US, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, EU, Hong Kong, China (retail, HORECA, re-processing).
How to source itHokkaido Gyoren/JF coops and major processors; Maruha Nichiro / Nissui as large exporters; JETRO; Seafood Expo Global/Asia, FOODEX JAPAN.
Verified sourceshttps://www.msc.org/media-centre/press-releases/press-release/hokkaido-scallop-fishery-gains-msc-certification; https://www.japanfs.org/en/news/archives/news_id034273.html
MakerHokkaido fishery coops (Gyoren / Hokuren) and processors
OriginHokkaido (Okhotsk, Saroma, Funka Bay) & Aomori (Mutsu Bay)
CategoryMeat & Seafood / Scallop
Available inUS, VN, TW +4 more
HandlingFrozen
Price tierPremium
ChannelFoodservice
Export readinessEstablished export
HS code0307
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.