Late-October 2009 featuring new fish price trends in Russia's capital
In the last week of October 2009 trade in freshfrozen seafood in Moscow has been showing interesting price trends with the market demand growing for a number of fish species, analysts of www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) concluded after analyzing the current situation on the market.
More specifically, in October 2009 traders have been actively selling pink salmon and herring, especially brisk sales have been observed for lightly salted herring. Pink salmon has made strong influence on sales of pollock, hake, haddock and other whitefish species thanks to favourable retail prices. In the course of the month prices for imported seafood have continued actively falling, in particular prices for pangasius fillets, tilapia, pollock, hake, ocean perch and other imported products. According to some importers, that has been due to a number of factors such as decreased demand, presence of large volumes of imported products and their wish to get back the invested money in cash in view of active USD weakening.
In general, seasonal price rise, especially for table fish, has not been observed in the course of the month. According to the experts, the price rise depends on the weather temperatures and as soon as it gets colder, the demand is expected to grow. However, in the current year such forecasts may not come true as the consumer demand directly depends on lower incomes.
In October 2009 the saury fishery in the Russian Far East has turned into a large disappointment. As per the end of October 2009, the catches amounted to 50% from the last year level. The fishery situation has been weak and no prospects for the better are expected in November 2009. Some Moscow's wholesalers have been asking RUB65.00 per kilo of air frozen saury. Canneries have been trading canned saury at RUB37.00 per 250-gram can. According to market participants, retail traders still sell old stock of canned fish at RUB23.00-26.00 per can.
Catch
As per 6 October 2009 Russia's total harvest of finfish and other aquatic species amounted to 3,056,400 tonnes, 302,400 tonnes up on the corresponding result of 2008. The TACs were covered at 76.8%, 11% up on the corresponding result of last year.
The total harvest of Pacific salmons in 2009 amounted to 534,600 tonnes, 198,500 tonnes or 159% up on the catch of 2007.
Vet update
Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor has lifted restrictions for importation of trout, Atlantic salmon and products made from them by the Norwegian plants No.H-107 Brandasund Fiskeforedling AS and H-109 Hardanger Fiskeforedling to the territory of the Russian Federation as of 26 October 2009. Besides, it has additionally approved H-72 Austevoll Fiskeindustri AS.
Along with the above developments, the Russian vets have approved foreign seafood exporters from the following countries:
Norway (except for salmon and trout):
- 1. M 47 (leinefisk AS)
- 2. SF 34 (Atlantic Longline AS)
- 3. SF 56 (Fjellmoy AS)
Faroese Islands:
- 1. FO 200, Arctic Viking
- 2. FO 276, Runavikar Frostgoymsla
Italia:
- 1. CE IT 284, Agroittica Lombarda Srl
Spain:
- 1. 12.12163/SS, Nortindal Sea Products S.L.
and New Zealand:
- 1. PH1, Talley's Group Limited.