Overview of Moscow's freshfrozen fish market as per third week of April 2009
As per the third week of April 2009 trade in freshfrozen seafood in Moscow has shown mixed price trends, analysts of www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) concluded after analyzing the current situation on the market.
The general situation on the market has been calm without any surges. Market participants speak of slow activity and comparably weak demand. Besides, the trends have been mixed for prices of Norwegian herring, and there has also been a certain decrease of prices for w/r pink salmon, pollock and HGT hake. Many importers have started offering Spanish mackerel.
Pink salmon
As per the third week of April 2009 Moscow's market of pink salmon has continued experiencing upward price pressure.
The maximum price for head-on gutted IQF pink salmon of good quality has reached RUB130.00 per kilo, while the average prices amount to ca.RUB100.00-110.00 per kilo.
W/r pink salmon has been offered by many Moscow suppliers from RUB98.00 per kilo, headed pink salmon has been traded at RUB105.00 per kilo.
Russian pink salmon fillets skin-on IQF 300 grams have been available at RUB120.00-130.00 per kilo.
Chum salmon
As per the third week of April 2009 the chum salmon market has also been under upward price pressure, just like the market of pink salmon.
Head-on gutted chum salmon of the 1st grade harvested in Kamchatka has been priced from RUB95.00 to RUB110.00 per kilo ex-coldstore in Moscow.
Headed chum salmon has been offered at ca.RUB100.00-120.00 per kilo.
Chum salmon fillets skinned, deboned and block frozen have been available in Moscow at RUB110.00 per kilo.
Salmon roe
In the third week of April 2009 the situation on the market of salted salmon roe has remained unchanged.
The current prices for high quality roe have been reported at RUB1100.00-1300.00 per kilo. Pink salmon roe of lower quality has reached the price level of RUB800.00 per kilo, while chum salmon roe of the same quality has been marketed at RUB900.00 per kilo.
Sockeye roe has been available from RUB1100.00 per kilo.
Chum salmon roe has been traded at ca.RUB1100.00 per kilo.
Roe of coho salmon harvested in Kamchatka has been sold at ca.RUB1200.00 per kilo.
Frozen trout roe 1st grade has been marketed at RUB1350.00-1500.00 per kilo ex-farm.
Frozen sockeye and coho roe in skeins has been offered at RUB500.00-600.00 per kilo. Frozen pink salmon roe in skeins has been marketed from RUB750.00 per kilo, VAT inclusive.
Atlantic salmon
According to the Norwegian sources, despite the economic crisis, in the first quarter of 2009 Russia has imported farmed Atlantic salmon at the value increased on last year by 42 million NOK. Import has reached 365 million NOK.
As per the third week of April 2009 Moscow's market of Atlantic salmon has been showing mixed trends. There has been a certain decrease of prices for Norwegian product along with strengthening prices for Chilean salmon.
In Moscow Atlantic salmon Superior made in Norway has been offered at following prices: from RUB215.00 per kilo of the size 4-5, from RUB220.00-235.00 per kilo of the size 5-6, from RUB220.00-238.00 per kilo of the size 6-7, from RUB220.00-238.00 per kilo of the size 7-8, from RUB225.00-240.00 per kilo of the sizes 8-9 and from RUB240.00 per kilo of the sizes 9+. The minimum price for the Norwegian salmon has remained at the same level, while the maximum price has decreased.
Chilled Atlantic salmon Premium has been marketed from RUB180.00 per kilo of the size 2-3, from RUB200.00-235.00 per kilo of the size 4-5, from RUB205.00-242.00 per kilo of the size 5-6, from RUB208.00-244.00 per kilo of the size 6-7 and from RUB212.00-245.00 per kilo of the size 7-8. The prices have been on the rise.
Trout
In the third week of April 2009, the trout market has been showing certain stagnation.
Prices for Chilean trout Premium have remained unchanged from RUB200.00 per kilo of the size 0.9-1.8, from RUB215.00 per kilo of the size 1.8-2.7, from RUB225.00 per kilo of the size 2.7-4.0, and from RUB240.00 per kilo 3.6-4.5.
Prices for Norwegian trout have also remained stable. Norwegian trout Superior has been marketed from RUB220.00 per kilo of the size 0.9-1.8, from RUB215.00 per kilo of the size 1.8-2.7, from RUB255.00 per kilo of the size 2.7-3.6, and RUB240.00 per kilo of the size 3.6-4.5.
Traders have also offered Danish trout at RUB190.00 per kilo of the size 1.5-2.0 and at RUB205.00 per kilo of the size 3.0-4.0.
Herring
The Norwegian sources speak about a decline of the Norwegian herring export to Russia. In the course of the first quarter of 2009 Russia imported 199,000 tonnes of herring, 5000 tonnes down on last year. At the same time, import of herring fillets increased.
As per the third week of April 2009 Moscow's herring market has been showing mixed price trends. In particular, prices for Norwegian herring ex-coldstore in Moscow increased as compared to previous weeks.
In Murmansk newly caught herring 200-300 has been available at RUB27.00-28.00 per kilo. Poorly graded and classified as large and fat herring has been offered at RUB27.00 per kilo. The prices have been stable.
Norwegian herring has been marketed in Saint Petersburg at RUB28.50 per kilo of the size 200-300, RUB36.00-37.50 per kilo of the size 300+, RUB49.50-51.00 per kilo of the size 350+ and RUB54.50 per kilo of the size 400+.
Norwegian herring flaps 4-8 have been marketed ex-coldstore in Moscow from RUB62.00 per kilo, while the size 6-10 has been available in the capital from RUB55.00-59.00 per kilo. The prices have been stable.
Pacific herring 250-300 has been offered at RUB27.00-28.00 per kilo. Larger Pacific herring 270+ and 400+ has been traded correspondingly at RUB29.00 and RUB52.00 per kilo ex-coldstore in Moscow. The prices have been comparably stable.
Mackerel
As per the third week of April 2009 Moscow's mackerel market has also been showing mixed trends. In particular, there has been a decline of prices for several sizes of Norwegian mackerel. Prices for mackerel from other sources have remained comparably stable.
Large importers in Saint Petersburg have offered Norwegian herring at RUB108.00 per kilo of the size 400-600 (the price has declined).
Irish mackerel has been marketed in Saint Petersburg at stable prices of RUB105.00 per kilo of the size 400-600.
Scottish mackerel 400-600 has been available in Saint Petersburg at increased prices of RUB106.00 per kilo. In Moscow the same product has been offered at RUB110.00 per kilo.
Japanese mackerel 400-600 has been offered ex-coldstore in Moscow at RUB78.00 per kilo. The price has been unchanged.
Many importers have started offering Spanish mackerel 300-500 at RUB75.00 per kilo and 400-600 at RUB95.00 per kilo in Saint Petersburg.
Baltic herring, Baltic sprat
As per the third week of April 2009 the situation on the Baltic sprat market has also been mixed. While prices for Estonian sprat have remained stable, Swedish sprat has appreciated.
More specifically, Swedish sprat 10-12 cm has been available ex-coldstore in Moscow from RUB28.50 per kilo.
Estonian sprat 10-12 cm has been sold at RUB24.00-25.50 per kilo ex-coldstore in Moscow.
The spring season took off in Kaliningrad. In the recent five years the Baltic herring quota in the province's bays has been unchanged at 2000 tonnes per year as the offshore harvest of Baltic herring has been growing. The fishery will close in mid-May when the water gets warmer and the fish starts feeding thus losing the required market specification.
As per the third week of April 2009 prices for Baltic herring have not changed as compared to late March 2009. Appreciation has been observed only for Swedish products.
Finnish herring has been offered in Moscow at RUB22.00 per kilo of the size 12-15.
Swedish herring 14-18 has been offered at RUB30.50 per kilo ex-coldstore in Moscow.
Latvian herring 12-15 delivered to Pskov has been sold from RUB25.00 per kilo. Baltic herring 18+ of the Russian origin has been offered at RUB26.00-28.00 per kilo in Moscow.
Capelin
According to the reports from the grounds, the Barents Sea capelin fishery has been gradually coming to an end. The capelin harvest since the beginning of the fishery has amounted to ca.86,000 tonnes, the quota having been covered at 57%. The contribution of Kaliningrad-based vessels has totaled 9.5%.
The Norwegian sources say that in the first quarter of the year Russia has imported 50,000 tonnes of frozen capelin from Norway.
As per the third week of April 2009 prices for Norwegian capelin have remained comparably stable. In Murmansk Norwegian capelin 40-50 has been offered from RUB24.50 per kilo on the average, roe capelin has been offered at RUB27.00-28.00 per kilo.
In Saint Petersburg prices for the count 30-40 have amounted to RUB32.00-33.00 per kilo and RUB33.00 per kilo for the count 35-45.
In Moscow capelin of the same count 30-40 has been offered at RUB34.00-36.00 per kilo. The count 40-50 has been offered in the capital from RUB30.00 per kilo.
Russian capelin harvested by Arkhangelsk Trawl Fleet has been available at RUB32.50 per kilo of the count 30-40.
Blue whiting
The Russian blue whiting fishery has been gathering momentum. In the first week of April the fleets harvested 5200 tonnes of blue whiting, 1200 tonnes up on the previous week. More than a half of the harvest was contributed by Kaliningrad-based fleets.
As per the third week of April 2009 the blue whiting supply in Moscow has been low.
In Murmansk blue whiting 20-25+ has been offered at RUB26.50-27.50 per kilo.
In Saint Petersburg blue whiting from the new catch in Iceland has been marketed at RUB27.50 per kilo of the size 20+. Russian blue whiting has been offered at RUB28.00 per kilo.
In Moscow blue whiting has been sold at about RUB30.00-31.00 per kilo.
Alaska pollock
The Russian pollock fishery in the Sea of Okhotsk has been suspended to 20 April 2009. The need in the fishery's extension has been caused by decreased catches of pollock in the end of March 2009 - early April 2009 due to unfavourable weather conditions. More specifically, worse fishery situation has resulted into underexploitation of the quota with 507,000 tonnes harvested out of the quota of 632,000 tonnes. In general, as per 12 April 2009 the take-up of commercial pollock quotas in the Sea of Okhotsk has amounted to 73.2%.
As per the third week of April 2009 prices both for the Russian products and the Chinese double frozen pollock have continued declining in Moscow.
In particular, headed gutted pollock has been offered ex-coldstore in Moscow at the following prices: from RUB59.00-62.00 per kilo of the size 35+, from RUB60.00-63.00 per kilo of the size 30+, and from RUB62.00-65.00 per kilo of the size 35+.
The Chinese fillets of skinned pollock IQF have been offered by many suppliers from RUB74.00-77.00 per kilo of the count 6-8 and at RUB77.00-83.00 per kilo of the count 8+. The prices have slightly decreased.
Hake
According to the importers, at present the situation on the hake market has been calm. Market players have been offering a lot of the North American and the South American hake. Despite introduced ban for the hake fishery (Merluccius hubbsi) in the common zone of Argentina and Uruguay from 1 April to 30 June and a 50% decrease of hake quotas for capture in the Pacific coast of the USA, prices on the Russian market have remained stable so far. Importers report that exporters have sufficient product inventories from the previous seasons and in Russia the inventories have also been fairly strong, therefore no large price rise has been expected.
As per the third week of April 2009 certain upward pressure has been observed though prices for HGT hake have remained comparably stable. In particular, hake fillets made in China have started appreciating.
Canadian HGT hake IQF has been offered ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg at RUB85.00-88.00 per kilo of the size 300-600 and at RUB84.00 per kilo of the size 500+. Prices for HGT hake 300-500 originating from the USA have been reported at RUB82.00-84.00 per kilo in Saint Petersburg.
In Moscow Canadian hake 300-600 has been sold at about RUB90.00 per kilo.
Hake from Ecuador has been marketed ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg from RUB76.00 per kilo of the size 200-400, from RUB80.00 per kilo of the size 400-600, RUB81.00 per kilo of the size 600-800, at RUB82.00 per kilo of the size 800-1000 and at RUB83.00 per kilo of the size 1000+. The prices have been stable.
Skin-on hake fillets made in China have been offered ex-coldstore in Moscow from RUB84.00-88.00 per kilo of the size 6-8 ounces, and from RUB87.00-90.00 per kilo of the size 8+.
Squid
According to OAO NBAMR (plc), a fleet owned by BAMR-ROLIZ Group of Companies has moved to the grounds. More specifically, RTM Kalinovo has already headed for the grounds, in the near future the group's trawlers RTM Kaltan, Grafit, Dolomit and Izumrudny will move the grounds of the North Kuriles.
Big problems have been reported from the grounds of illex squid. Argentina's Federal Fisheries Council has unanimously voted for closure of the squid fishery (Illex argentines) to the south of the 46th degree South. In the fishing zone of the Falkland Islands there are no conditions for a start of the illex squid fishery this year. At present no abundant approaches of illex squid have been observed in the waters of the Falkland Islands. The total harvest in the area has been very low.
Against such background market participants do not forecast any decrease of squid prices on the Russian market.
As per the third week of April 2009, the average price for magister squid tubes ex-coldstore has fluctuated at RUB70.00 per kilo. There have been single offers from RUB68.00-69.00 per kilo, while the bulk of the products have been offered at about RUB75.00 per kilo.
Squid fillets made by Okeanrybflot have been offered in Moscow at RUB118.00 per kilo. The prices have remained stable.
Japanese squid tubes have been available in Moscow at RUB62.00 per kilo.
Pangasius
As per the second week of April 2009 the pangasius market has retained a slight growth of prices. Most of large suppliers have been trading in pink fillets 220+ at ca.RUB82.00-87.00 per kilo.
Prices for pangasius fillets in Saint Petersburg start from RUB81.00 per kilo.
In Moscow many traders have been offering pangasius fillets from RUB87.00-90.00 per kilo.
Tilapia
As per the third week of April 2009 the situation on the tilapia market has remained unchanged. Various sizes of tilapia have been on offer both in Saint Petersburg and in Moscow from China, Taiwan and Indonesia.
Importers say that tilapia shipments have been stable at present, with a lot of further containers in transit by sea. Traders forecast a rise of product shipments close to early July, when a ban for seafood import from non-approved plants in China and a number of other countries is going to be introduced. Under the recent vet rules Russia has been phasing in the requirement that only plants and establishments approved by the Russian vet authorities will be allowed to export to Russia.
More specifically, Chinese tilapia fillets have been marketed ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg from RUB160.00 per kilo of the size 2-3, from RUB162.00 per kilo of the size 3-5, from RUB164.00 per kilo of the size 5-7 and from RUB164.00 per kilo of the size 7-9.
HGT tilapia has been offered at RUB111.00 per kilo of the size 500-800 and RUB114.00 per kilo of the size 800+. The prices have remained stable.