US surimi costs jump 20%, hiking Japanese fish paste prices, threatening oden and osechi

Japanese fish paste products such as kamaboko and chikuwa face further price hikes, with US surimi import costs expected to rise over 20% year-on-year. The Japan Kamaboko Association says frozen surimi purchase prices for the second half of 2026, mainly from the US, will exceed 2025 levels by more than 20%. Declining production and the weak yen are also pushing costs higher. El Niño-related warming off South America is worsening the surge, raising concerns about oden and osechi ingredients. The association says price increases are unavoidable to maintain quality and taste.