Your Global Partner for Premium Frozen Squid
From the world's finest fishing grounds to your processing plant — First Squid sources, trades and delivers premium frozen squid worldwide. Reliable supply, consistent quality, competitive pricing.
First Squid — Frozen Squid Trader Worldwide
First Squid is an international trading company specialized exclusively in frozen squid. We operate at the heart of the global cephalopod supply chain, connecting the world's most productive fishing grounds with importers, distributors, wholesalers and seafood processors across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Our expertise is built on a deep understanding of squid species, fishing seasons, freezing technologies and international trade logistics. Whether you need IQF squid tubes for retail packaging, block frozen whole round for industrial processing, or baby squid for the foodservice sector, First Squid delivers the right product, from the right origin, at the right time.
We work with a carefully selected network of trusted suppliers — fishing vessels, processing plants and cold storage facilities — in the Falkland Islands , Argentina , Patagonia , Peru, Chile, Morocco , Mauritania , Japan, China, Vietnam , New Zealand , South Africa and the Indian Ocean . This global sourcing network gives us the flexibility to maintain consistent supply throughout the year, regardless of seasonal variations in any single fishing zone.
At First Squid, we believe that a strong trading relationship is built on transparency, reliability and technical knowledge. Our team provides full traceability on every shipment, from catch to cold chain, ensuring that our buyers receive exactly what they ordered — on time, at specification, every time.
First Squid in Numbers
- 10 squid cuts available
- 10 squid species sourced globally
- 14 fishing origins worldwide
- 17 target markets across 6 continents
- 2 freezing technologies: IQF & Block Frozen
- 12 months supply continuity through global sourcing
Our Frozen Squid Products
First Squid offers the complete range of frozen squid cuts to meet the needs of every buyer — from retail packers and foodservice operators to industrial seafood processors.
Whole Round — Squid frozen in its natural state, ideal for processors who carry out their own cutting and cleaning operations. Available in all major species and sizes.
Whole Cleaned — Squid with head, tentacles and viscera removed, skin-on or skin-off. Ready for further processing into tubes, rings or fillets.
Tubes — The most commercially traded squid product worldwide. Clean, versatile, available IQF or block frozen. Widely used for rings, strips, stuffed squid and calamari products.
Rings — Pre-cut squid rings, IQF or block frozen. Ready for breading, frying or retail packaging. Available in calibrated sizes.
Baby Squid — Small whole squid, skin-on, IQF frozen. Extremely popular in Mediterranean markets, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Japan.
Tentacles — Squid tentacles, IQF or block frozen. Strong demand in Asian and Mediterranean markets.
Flower Cut — Decorative cut squid, scored to open into a flower shape when cooked. Premium product for foodservice and Asian markets.
Steaks & Fillets — Large squid species (Dosidicus gigas) cut into steaks or fillets. Ideal for foodservice, grilling and processing into value-added products.
Wings / Fins — Squid fins, IQF or block frozen. Popular in Asian markets and increasingly in Europe.
Looking for a specific squid cut or species? Contact us directly on WhatsApp for a fast response.
Squid Species We Trade
First Squid sources and trades ten major squid species from fishing grounds across four oceans, giving our buyers access to the broadest possible range of squid products.
Loligo Gahi — Patagonian squid from the Falkland Islands and South Atlantic. Premium quality, small to medium size, ideal for tubes, rings and baby squid products. One of the most prized squid species in European markets.
Illex Argentinus — Argentine shortfin squid from the South Atlantic. One of the largest volume squid fisheries in the world. Available in large quantities year-round, ideal for industrial processing.
Dosidicus Gigas — Humboldt squid from Peru and Chile. Very large squid with firm white flesh, ideal for steaks, fillets and value-added products. Strong demand in North America, Europe and Asia.
Loligo Vulgaris — Common European squid from the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Premium species with high demand in Spain, Italy, Portugal and France.
Todarodes Pacificus — Japanese flying squid from the North Pacific. Major commercial species in Japan and South Korea.
Loligo Reynaudii — Cape squid from South Africa. High quality, medium size, growing demand in European markets.
Sepioteuthis Lessoniana — Bigfin reef squid from Southeast Asia. Premium quality, widely consumed in Asian markets.
Nototodarus Sloanii — Arrow squid from New Zealand and Australia. Clean white flesh, premium quality, strong demand in Europe and Asia.
Uroteuthis Duvaucelii — Indian squid from the Indian Ocean. Important commercial species for Middle Eastern and South Asian markets.
Ommastrephes Bartramii — Neon flying squid from the North Pacific. Significant commercial volumes, traded mainly in Japan and South Korea.
IQF & Block Frozen — Two Technologies for Every Need
First Squid supplies frozen squid in both major freezing formats to meet the specific requirements of each buyer and application.
IQF — Individually Quick Frozen — Each piece of squid is frozen individually at ultra-low temperature, preserving texture, colour and flavour. IQF squid is the preferred format for retail packaging, foodservice portioning and any application requiring free-flowing pieces. Minimal glazing, easy to portion, no need to defrost the entire block.
Block Frozen — Squid frozen in solid blocks, typically 1kg, 2kg or 5kg. The preferred format for industrial processing, offering excellent price efficiency and long shelf life. Block frozen squid is widely used by seafood processors, canneries and food manufacturers.
Global Sourcing — The World's Best Fishing Grounds
Our sourcing network spans the most productive squid fishing zones on the planet, ensuring year-round availability across all species and product types.
South Atlantic: Falkland Islands , Argentina , Patagonia — home to Loligo Gahi and Illex Argentinus, two of the world's most commercially important squid species.
South Pacific: Peru, Chile — source of Dosidicus Gigas, the Humboldt squid, one of the largest and most versatile squid species in the world.
North Atlantic: Morocco, Mauritania — important fishing zones for Loligo Vulgaris and mixed squid species, with modern processing facilities and EU-approved export status.
Asia Pacific: Japan, China, Vietnam — major squid processing hubs supplying Todarodes Pacificus, Sepioteuthis Lessoniana and a wide range of processed squid products.
Southern Ocean: New Zealand — source of premium Nototodarus Sloanii arrow squid, with a reputation for exceptional quality and sustainable fishing practices.
Southern Africa: South Africa — growing source of Loligo Reynaudii cape squid, increasingly present in European markets.
Indian Ocean — source of Uroteuthis Duvaucelii Indian squid, serving Middle Eastern and South Asian markets.
Need frozen squid from a specific origin? Tell us your requirements — we respond within 24 hours.
Supplying Frozen Squid to Markets Worldwide
First Squid exports to buyers across six continents, covering all major squid-consuming markets worldwide.
Europe — Our largest market. Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and Greece are among the world's highest per-capita consumers of squid and calamari. We supply importers, distributors and food manufacturers throughout the EU.
North America — Growing demand for frozen calamari in the USA and Canada, driven by foodservice, retail and the food manufacturing sector.
Asia — Japan, South Korea and China are among the world's largest squid markets. We supply trading companies, processors and distributors across the region.
Middle East — Strong demand for frozen squid across Gulf countries and the broader Middle East, particularly for foodservice and retail.
Africa — Emerging market with growing demand for affordable frozen seafood protein, including squid and cephalopods.
Latin America — Regional demand for squid products, particularly in Brazil, Mexico and Chile.
Why Choose First Squid as Your Frozen Squid Supplier
Global Sourcing Network — We source from 14 fishing origins across four oceans, giving us unmatched flexibility to maintain supply continuity throughout the year.
Species Expertise — We trade 10 squid species and understand the specific characteristics, seasonality and commercial applications of each one.
Full Product Range — From whole round to flower cut, from IQF to block frozen, we supply the complete range of frozen squid products to meet every buyer's specification.
Reliable Supply — Our global network means we are never dependent on a single origin or a single supplier. When one fishery is in off-season, we source from another.
Competitive Pricing — Our trading volumes and supplier relationships allow us to offer competitive pricing on all products and origins.
Traceability — Full documentation on every shipment: catch certificates, health certificates, country of origin, species identification, freezing method and cold chain records.
Responsive Team — We understand that the frozen seafood trade moves fast. Our team responds quickly to enquiries, provides samples on request and delivers quotes within 24 hours.
Ready to Source Premium Frozen Squid?
Whether you are an importer looking for a reliable long-term supplier, a distributor seeking new squid products, or a processor requiring specific cuts and species — First Squid is your dedicated frozen squid trading partner.
Contact us today to discuss your requirements and receive a competitive quote within 24 hours.