Russian fishery industry indices for January-February 2012
Russia's fishery industry has continued showing a positive trend in all its social and economic indices, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/.
More specifically, against the background of rising catches (+4.7%), frozen fish export (+35.8%), seafood production output (+2.2%) and retail fish trade (+9.7%) total overdue arrears in the nation's fishery industry have continued declining (bill payable and back wages). In January-February 2012 rise of consumer prices for finfish and other aquatic products has become twice slower as compared to the same period last year.
Catches
As per 11 March 2012 Russia's total harvest of finfish and other aquatic species amounted to 955,000 MT, 43,300 MT or 4.7% up on last year.
The biggest catch rise was registered for ocean perch, which harvest jumped 2.2 times to 1,500 MT. Grenadier harvest rose twice to 1,500 MT, shrimps - by 23.3% to 2,800 MT, herring - by 18.9% to 93,300 MT, European anchovy - by 18.3% to 7,100 MT, cod - by 17.3% to 75,800 MT, flounder - by 17.2% to 9,400 MT and Alaska pollock - by 2.2% to 576,000 MT. At the same time, there was a decline of capelin catches by 29.2% to 52,700 MT, sprats - by 20.7% to 5,300 MT and sprat - by 3.3% to 300 MT.
Another positive development was a 15% rise of catches in foreign EEZs, convention areas and open waters of the World Ocean which totaled 74,000 MT.
In foreign waters the Russian harvest rose by 8.2% or 5,000 MT to 65,600 MT. The catch rise could be attributed to better results on the grounds of saithe, blue whiting, mackerel and horse mackerel.
In convention areas and in the international waters the Russian fishermen boosted their catches 2.2 times or by 4,700 MT to 8,400 MT. Positive dynamics was observed in catches of ocean perch, blue whiting and cod.
Output of seafood for human consumption
According to Russia's Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), as compared to the same period of 2011 in January-February 2012 the nation's commercial production index (canned fish inclusive) amounted to 102.2% to 624,000 MT, while in February 2012 as compared to February 2011 it made 103.2%, as compared to January 2012 - 126.9%.
In the first two months of 2012, against the background of declining frozen fish production (except for herring) by 0.6%, fillets - by 4.4%, ready-to-eat fish - by 13% and salmon caviar - by 13.3% the Russian processors increased production of lightly salted herring - by 3.3%, frozen shellfish - by 7.3%, dry-cured fish - by 7.5%, liver, roe and milt - by 7.6%, cold smoked fish - by 8.8%, canned fish in oil - by 11.3%, lightly salted fish (except for herring) - by 14.8%, fish salted and marinated with spices - by 23.7% and canned fish natural - by 33.8%.
External trade
According to provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service, Russia's frozen seafood import (HSC subgroup 0303) in January-February 2012 as compared to the same period of last year grew by 1.8% from 85,200 MT to 86,700 MT. At the same time, the nation's export of frozen fish jumped by 35.8% to 196,700 MT to 267,000 MT.
As compared to last year in February 2012 Russia's seafood import value rose by 7.4% to USD 209.1 million, including a rise of frozen fish imports by 5.6% to USD 82.5 million, fish fillets - by 17% to USD 31.4 million.