Overview of freshfrozen fish market of Saint Petersburg and other regions as per mid-February 2008

Through the recent month from mid-January to mid-February 2008 the freshfrozen fish market of Saint Petersburg and other regions has displayed a number of developments, trading sources in Saint-Petersburg (Russia's main entry port for seafood imports) told http://www.fishnet-russia.com/ (https://www.fishnet.ru/).

Herring

Herring 300+ Norway was marketed from RUB 27.00 per kilo, while the size 350+ was traded from RUB36.00 per kilo. At the same time, herring 400+ was sold from RUB44.00-45.00 per kilo, therefore due to the price difference for the sizes 350+ and 400+ many processors preferred to buy 350+ unlike in the recent years when the size 400+ enjoyed a strong demand.

Baltic herring, Baltic sprat

The traders kept reporting a lack of supply of high quality sprat. At the same time, the Baltic States had already started targeting the species and the product appeared on the market of Saint Petersburg at prices from RUB18.00 per kilo. Besides, traders also offered Swedish sprat from RUB17.00 per kilo.

Finnish herring 12-15 was offered from RUB20.00, while the size 15-17 was marketed from RUB22.00.

Mackerel

Mackerel 400-600 was offered from RUB63.00 per kilo. Scottish mackerel was sold from RUB60.00 per kilo.

Pangasius

Prices for pangasius fillets stabilised at RUB50-52 per kilo. For the coming weeks traders forecasted no dramatic rises and falls of prices as the market had already been divided between large operators.

Blue whiting

A certain shortage of supply was reported from the blue whiting market. Even if prices fell to RUB27.00 per kilo, the decrease would be for a short term while the product was being landed in Saint Petersburg. After the fish was landed, the prices would rise again.

As per 13 February 2008 blue whiting was marketed from RUB29.00 to RUB31.00 per kilo ex-coldstore.

Hake

Canadian hake 300-500 was available from RUB63.00-65.00 per kilo.

Cod

Headed cod 1.5-2 was offered at ca.RUB85.00 per kilo.

Squid

Squid from the Russian Far East was marketed at RUB90.00-100.00 per kilo. In the meantime, Argentinean squid of approximately the same quality was sold at up to RUB70.00-75.00 per kilo and Chilean squid appreciated from RUB55.00 to RUB65.00 per kilo. As many squid processing plants in Chile and Peru failed to be certified by Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian vets limited importation of squid from those countries to Russia approved plants only and in the near future traders were expecting a strong shortage of squid and a greater price rise.

Trout

Prices for Atlantic salmon and trout as per late January - early February 2008 were as follows:

Trout PREMIUM (SUPER), headed 1.8-2.7, Chile from RUB179.00 per kilo;

Trout PREMIUM (SUPER), headed 2.6-3.7, Chile from RUB170.00 per kilo;

Trout PREMIUM (SUPER), headed 1.7-2.7, Norway from RUB160.00 per kilo;

Atlantic salmon PREMIUM (SUPER), headed 6-7, Norway from RUB180.00 per kilo;

Atlantic salmon PREMIUM (SUPER), headed 7-8, Norway from RUB183.00 per kilo;

Atlantic salmon PREMIUM (SUPER), headed 8-9, Norway from RUB185.00 per kilo.

However, as per mid-February 2008, prices fell to RUB150.00-149.00 per kilo. The price fall could be explained by the fact that the market got saturated with Chilean trout of INDUSTRIAL quality fetching from RUB120.00 per kilo depending on the size. Besides, chilled trout from Karelia was available on the market from RUB115.00 per kilo with the quality fit for processing which also pushed prices down. At the same time, after the New Year holidays the demand for expensive products slightly decreased.

As per 12 February 2008 trout prices on the market of Saint Petersburg were as follows:

Trout 1.8-2.7 PREMIUM from RUB148.00 per kilo;

Trout 2.7-3.6 PREMIUM from RUB149.00 per kilo;

Trout 2.7-3.6 INDUSTRIAL from RUB137.00 per kilo;

Trout 1.8-2.7 INDUSTRIAL from RUB133.00 per kilo;

Trout 0.9-1.8 INDUSTRIAL from RUB120.00 per kilo.

Prices in Saint Petersburg

Prices in the Russian Far East Basin