Overview of Moscow's freshfrozen fish market as per third week of August 2010
As per the third week of August 2010 trade in freshfrozen seafood in Moscow has shown mixed price trends, analysts of http://www.megafishnet.com (https://www.fishnet.ru/) concluded after analyzing the current situation on the market.
In the week under analysis the salmon season in the Russian Far East remained at the centre of traders' attention. According to official sources, the harvest in Kamchatka as per 13 August 2010 amounted to ca.57,000 tonnes. Traders unanimously think that the official figures are overestimated and the real volume may amount to ca.35,000-45,000 tonnes. So far, the market participants are conservative in their price forecasts as actual figures for salmon catches are not yet clear. An evident trend is only that of quick price rise stirred up by panic moods of some traders. However, many traders think that in 2010 salmon prices will be neither in keeping with last year nor even close to them, but with a brisk rise of pink salmon prices product sales may come to a halt. Pink salmon is first of all a product of social market segment especially sensible to price jumps.
According to foreign sources, prices for pink salmon and chum salmon with MSC certificate have been rising. Prices for pink salmon have grown from 2150 USD per tonne to 3150 USD per tonne. Prices for chum salmon have risen from 3000 USD to 4000 USD per tonne. A representative of large Chinese company says that in 2010 pink salmon shipments from Russia are very low as the demand on the domestic market is very high.
Besides, on the recent week active discussions have touched prospects of a dramatic rise of prices for such every-day food products as bread, milk, etc. Fish products do not belong to the product group, however experts say that a rise of prices for cereals may also tell on meat prices, which in its turn can lead to a shift of consumption for example towards seafood products, thus pushing up demand and affecting prices.
At the same time, in general in the middle of August 2010 price trends were positive which was typical for that period of the year.
From 1 January 2010 catches of aquatic biological resources by Russian fishery companies amounted to 2,425,600 metric tons, 234,100 tonnes up on last year. The TACs were covered at 58.7%, which was 10.7% up on the same period last year.
Atlantic salmon and trout
After a certain fall prices for fresh salmon in Norway were on a rise against a well established trend. According to official figures, the average export price of chilled salmon from 2 to 8 August 2010 grew nearly by 1% from 38.49 to 38.85 NOK per kilo. According to FISHPOOL agency, on the fourth week of August 2010 salmon prices will grow again.
Prices for chilled salmon remain one of the most urgent problems for Russian wholesalers and processors. Large jumps of prices make traders worry very much. According to a spokesman of a large Moscow-based fish processing company, purchasing price of chilled salmon 5-6 on the third week of August 2010 amounts to RUR319.20 per kilo, while the size 6-7 fetches prices of ca.RUR330.00 per kilo. Traders say that prices for the week to follow have been defined at RUR5.00-10.00 per kilo higher.
Chilean trout has also appreciated, the price rise amounting to ca.RUR5.00 per kilo on the average.
On the Russian market frozen Norwegian salmon has been sold at RUR300.00 per kilo of the size 4-5, RUR305.00-310.00 per kilo of the size 5-6, RUR315.00-320.00 per kilo of the size 7-8 and RUR320.00-330.00 per kilo of the sizes 8-9 and 9+.
Chilean trout of the premium quality has been marketed at RUR248.00-250.00 per kilo of the size 0.9-1.8, RUR260.00-265.00 per kilo of the size 1.8-2.7 and RUR285.00-290.00 per kilo of the size 2.7-4.0.
Rainbow trout head-on gutted from Spain has been offered from RUR174.00 per kilo.
Pink and chum salmon
In the Russian Far East fishermen continue harvesting salmons. The market participants report about an active rise of prices for salmon species, in particular pink salmon and chum salmon. Anticipating that the salmon season of the current year 2010 can turn a failure as compared to record breaking season of 2009, some market traders have started a price drive. More adequate market participants call their colleagues upon not to warm up the market, as such approach will result in no good. At present, Russian consumers are concerned by a rise of prices for bread and other foodstuffs with finfish and other aquatic products falling out of focus correspondingly.
According to a representative of one large company in the Russian Far East, actual prices for frozen pink salmon head-on gutted of the 1st grade from the season 2010 amount to ca.RUR75.00 per kilo in Moscow. Further rise of prices will lead to a corresponding decline of sales because, due to a rise of processing costs, end product prices, for instance, for smoked products, will also grow which will lead to resistance on the consumer market.
Retail trade has already reacted on the rise of wholesale prices. Average prices for pink salmon head-on gutted in regions of Russia already make ca.RUR110.00 per kilo.
It is also worth noticing that in line with a rise of prices for products from the new season prices for pink salmon from the last year season have also started rising (there is no chum salmon of standard quality on the market).
Prices for head-on gutted chum salmon from the season 2010 have settled in Moscow at RUR95.00 per kilo. Chum salmon is normally of shorter supply than pink salmon and the level of its prices usually do not influence sales.
In Moscow head-on gutted pink salmon from the harvest of 2010 fetches prices of up to RUR90.00 per kilo, while headed pink salmon is sold at up to RUR110.00 per kilo.
Prices for chum salmon from the new harvest amount to ca.RUR95.00-100.00 per kilo of head-on gutted fish and RUR105.00-110.00 per kilo of headed fish.
Salmon caviar
A spokesman of one large company in the Russian Far East says that sales of salmon caviar have been flat with prices described as stable. Slightly salted chum salmon caviar in cubotainers has been available from RUR1100 to RUR1250 per kilo.
Herring
According to experts, herring sales in the third week of August 2010 have been weak, in particular, in Murmansk. Prices for Russian herring have been stable and no movements have been observed so far. The price trends have been stable or negative.
In Murmansk poorly graded and classified as large and fat herring has been sold ex-coldstore at RUR19.00-20.00 per kilo of the size 200-300 and RUR26.00-27.00 per kilo of the size 300+.
Prices for the Russian herring in Saint Petersburg amount to RUR21.50 per kilo of the size 200-, ca.RUR21.80 per kilo of the size 200-300 and about RUR26.00 per kilo of the size 300+.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian herring has been marketed at RUR33.00 per kilo of the size 300+, RUR37.00 per kilo of the size 350+ and RUR56.00 per kilo of the size 400+.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian herring butterfly fillets have been offered from RUR50.00 per kilo of the size 5-8 cm and from RUR46.00-47.00 per kilo of the size 6-10 cm.
In Moscow herring fillets made by MTF have been marketed at RUR41.00-42.00 per kilo of the size 7-12 cm.
Mackerel
According to a representative of one Murmansk company, sales of Icelandic and Russian mackerel headed have been progressing fairly good in the third week of August 2010. Prices for high quality Icelandic mackerel frozen at sea have often been below the respective prices for similar Russian products. Good sales have been conditioned by low prices as compared to the previous year. For instance, prices have declined by 25% on the average from ca.RUR84.00-85.00 per kilo to RUR70.00-72.00 per kilo. Besides, experts say that mackerel compensates the lack of raw pink salmon for smoking which can also explain good sales.
Headed mackerel 250+ harvested on the Russian grounds in Murmansk has been sold at RUR43.00 per kilo of the size, while w/r mackerel has been available at RUR38.00 per kilo of the size 300-500 and at RUR49.50 per kilo of the size 400-600.
Icelandic mackerel headed and frozen at sea has been marketed at RUR42.00 per kilo of the size 250+ and RUR69.00 per kilo of the size 300+. In Saint Petersburg the size 300+ has been offered at RUR70.00 per kilo, while sizes 250+ and 200-400 have been offered at RUR51.00 and RUR42.00 per kilo.
Mackerel from the Netherlands has been offered in Moscow at RUR75.00-77.00 per kilo of the size 300-500, RUR104.00-106.00 per kilo of the size 400-600.
Baltic herring, Baltic sprat
According to provisional catch figures as per 17 August 2010, the Russian harvest of sprat in the Baltic Sea amounts to 16,400 tonnes, 300 tonnes down on last year. Sprat harvest in the Sea of Azov and in the Black Sea amounts to 4600 tonnes, 2700 tonnes down last year, while the sprat catch in the Caspian Sea totals 2200 tonnes, 800 tonnes down on last year.
As per the third week of August 2010 prices for Baltic sprat have remained unchanged from the last month level.
In particular, Estonian sprat 10-12 cm has been sold from RUR17.00 per kilo ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg.
Russian sprat has been offered in Saint Petersburg at RUR19.00 per kilo.
As per 17 August 2010, prices for Baltic herring have remained stable.
In Saint Petersburg Finnish herring 12-15 has been available from RUR19.00 per kilo.
Russian herring has been offered in Saint Petersburg at RUR24.00 per kilo of the size 18+ and at RUR34.00 per kilo of the size 20+.
Capelin
According to Murmansk sources, the situation on the capelin market remained stable. At present, the supply is fairly big, but traders have not got large volumes available on sale. Capelin was a good seller when its price started from RUR19.00 per kilo. New coldstore inventories have been built while old inventories at prices of about RUR25.00 per kilo have been selling weakly.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian capelin has been offered at RUR29.00 per kilo of the count 25-35, RUR26.00 per kilo of the count 30-40, RUR23.00 per kilo of the count of 35-45, RUR23.00 per kilo of the count of 40-50.
In Moscow capelin 40-50 made by MTF has been offered at RUR22.50-26.00 per kilo.
Blue whiting
According to experts, the lack of pink salmon supply and corresponding jump of prices can push up consumption in the social segment, first of all blue whiting consumption. At present, such trend has not been observed, though it can tell itself from the beginning of September 2010.
In Saint Petersburg Irish blue whiting 25+ has been offered at RUR28.00 per kilo ex-coldstore.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian blue whiting has been offered at RUR27.00 per kilo ex-coldstore.
In Murmansk blue whiting has been offered at RUR25.00-26.00 per kilo.
In Saint Petersburg blue whiting made by FOR Company has been sold at RUR26.00-26.50 per kilo.
Alaska pollock
Prices for Alaska pollock have slightly increased. According to a spokesman of a large company in the Russian Far East, the trend has been typical for the present situation and prices will gradually rise. Ratio of onboard and onshore frozen pollock in the market supply now amounts to ca.60/40. Prices for the products differ not very much, as according to traders for the Russian consumers quality is of smaller importance than price.
Prices for headed pollock in Moscow start from RUR44.00 per kilo of the size 20+, RUR46.00 per kilo of the size 25+, RUR47.00 per kilo of the size 30+ and RUR49.00 per kilo of the size 35+.
In Moscow Chinese skinned pollock fillets IQF 6-8 have been marketed from RUR58.00 per kilo, from RUR59.00 per kilo of the size 8+ subject to large wholesale lots.
Hake
In the course of July the hake market has been showing increase of product supply, in particular, from North America and Canada, and stabilization of prices due to expansion of the product range. North American hake from the new fishing season has been delivered to the Russian market. Prices for such products are comparably stable now.
Prices for South American hake have slightly declined, while hake fillets from China have grown slightly appreciated.
US hake has been marketed ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg at RUR76.00 per kilo of interleaved H&G product 200-400 and at RUR80.00 per kilo of H&G hake 300-500. Canadian H&G hake 300-500 IQF has been sold at RUR82.00 per kilo, while interleaved product has been sold at RUR79.00 per kilo.
In Saint Petersburg H&G hake from Uruguay has been traded at RUR73.00 per kilo of the size 80-150, RUR76.00 per kilo of the size 150-250, meat in discs and cubes has been offered at RUR60.00-68.00 per kilo.
In Saint Petersburg H&G hake from Argentina has been marketed at RUR78.00 per kilo of the size 200-400, at RUR84.00 per kilo of the size 350-500, hake fillets have been sold at RUR123.00 per kilo of the size 100-250 and RUR140.00 per kilo of 200+.
Interleaved H&G hake from Spain has been sold in Moscow at RUR83.00 per kilo of the size 200-300 and at RUR90.00 per kilo of the size 300+.
In Moscow skin-on hake fillets of the Chinese origin 6-8 and 8+ have been offered at RUR70.00 per kilo.
Squid
Though this year the squid harvest in the Russian Far East has been higher than the level of the previous year, as compared to the average level it remains smaller. In other words, squid catches this year have displayed a negative trend again. Traders say that on the Moscow market prices for squid tubes have showed a considerable rise. Sales at such high prices have been weak with the demand reported as moderate.
The market supply of Argentinean illex squid has been zero. Traders have been offering squid tubes form China and giant squid fillets from Peru which have also appreciated.
The average offer price ex-coldstore in Moscow amounts to ca.RUR94.00-95.00 per kilo. Squid tentacles have been sold at RUR55.00-57.00 per kilo.
In Saint Petersburg cleaned squid tubes of the Chinese origin have been sold at RUR118.00-120.00 per kilo of the count U10 and RUR110.00-115.00 per kilo of the count U5.
Giant squid fillets from Peru have been offered at RUR50.00 per kilo.
Pangasius
The situation on the market of pangasius fillets has remained stable. With the demand being weak prices have not been moving yet.
In Moscow and Saint Petersburg large importers have been offering pangasius from RUR72.00 per kilo on the average.
The average level of prices of large wholesalers amount to ca.RUR73.00-75.00 per kilo.
Pangasius fillets in cubes have been sold from RUR55.00 per kilo.
Tilapia
As per mid-August 2010, the situation on the market of tilapia fillets has remained stable.
Large importers have been selling tilapia fillets 3-5 ounces at RUR96.00 per kilo, while prices ex-coldstore have been reported at RUR98.00 per kilo. The count 5-7 ounces with the products being on the way to coldstore has been offered at RUR100.00 per kilo, while ex-coldstore products have fetches prices of RUR102.00 per kilo.
The average price level of most of wholesalers amounts to ca.RUR105.00-108.00 per kilo of fillets 5-7 ounces and RUR100.00-105.00 per kilo of fillets 3-5 ounces.
Cod
According to a representative from the Russian Far East, prices for Pacific cod in Moscow have slightly increased. Atlantic cod prices have remained stable.
Prices for headed and gutted Atlantic cod IQF in Murmansk in July have slightly increased to RUR80.00-83.00 per kilo of the size 0.5-1 and 1+.
Skinned cod fillets IQF made in Murmansk have been offered in Saint Petersburg from RUR129.00 per kilo.
Pacific cod headed block frozen 1.5+ and 2+ has been offered at RUR72.00-76.00 per kilo in Moscow.