Overview of Moscow's freshfrozen fish market as per third week of February 2010
As per the third week of February 2010 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.
As per 16 February 2010 Russia's total harvest of finfish and other aquatic species amounted to ca.525,700 tonnes, 122,400 tonnes up on the corresponding result of 2009. The TACs were covered at 12.9%, 30.3% up on the corresponding result of last year.
In order to raise efficiency of customs clearance and control of goods crossing the border of the Russian Federation the nation's Ministry of Justice has registered amendments and introduced new codes to the HSC as of 3 February 2010 (registration number of 16242).
In particular, new codes have been given to sturgeon caviar and other fish roe, seafood snacks, shrimps with spices, squid with spices.
As of 15 February 2010 Russia has cancelled mandatory certification of food products, seafood inclusive, and now producers are allowed to display their goods on the basis of holographic declaration. The measure has been aimed to eliminate administrative barriers got producers. At the same time, Russia's Government plans to increase fines for production of poor quality products ten times with the respective amendments to the legislation to be ready by 1 April 2010. The fines are supposed to range from RUR5000 to RUR500,000.
Russian-Moroccan cooperation
In the third week of February 2010 Russia and Morocco completed talks on cooperation in the sphere of marine fishery. The sides have come to an agreement regarding main conditions for Russia's fishing operations in the Moroccan EEZ. According to the agreement, the Russian vessels are allowed to operate in the Atlantic waters of the Moroccan EEZ on the grounds of sardine, sardinella, mackerel, horse mackerel, sablefish and anchovy. The allowed quota in the first year of the three-year agreement has been set at 120,000 tonnes. The fishing operations in the Atlantic fishing zone of Morocco can be conducted by no more than 12 Russian vessels. As per mid-February 2010 in the port of Kaliningrad the Russian vessels has been already landing fish harvested in Moroccan waters.
Other developments
In the Barents Sea the ban for red king crab operations introduced by the Federal Fisheries Agency has been lifted and now the Russian fishermen can harvest the species equally with their Norwegian colleagues.
The first vessel with chilled and frozen capelin called at OAO Murmansk Marine Fish Port (plc). More specifically, Lazurnyi M-0342 trawler owned by OOO Iceberg-Nord (ltd) landed 790 tonnes of frozen capelin and 470 tonnes of chilled capelin. Other vessels were also heading for Murmansk to land their capelin catches there.
Murmansk Fish Combine has launched a new coldstore capable of storing up to 2000 tonnes of seafood. The project cost is estimated at 15 million RUR and the coldstore equipment is really worth the above investments, experts say. With its purchase Murmansk will stop suffering from the lack of coldstorage capacities.
Along with the above developments, under the initiative of Russia's Federal Fisheries Agency OOO Rybtransservice (ltd) was registered on 1 February 2010 to be engaged in fish infrastructure. More specifically, the new company will be engaged in transportation, storage and realization of Russian catches of finfish and other aquatic products. The company will build a chain of coldstore terminals at its own expense and also with the help of attracted investments, purchase seafood from fishermen and processors and develop logistics services for retail trade.
In general, as per the third week of February 2010 trade in freshfrozen seafood in Moscow has shown mixed price trends such as a dramatic rise of prices for Norwegian salmon and trout, a continuing rise of prices for large herring, mackerel and salmon roe.
In the meantime, in the week under analysis prices have decreased for pollock, tilapia fillets, capelin and small mackerel. There has also been a slight decline of prices for blue whiting.
Pink salmon and chum salmon
As per the third week of February 2010 the situation on the salmon market, pink salmon in particular, has been mixed with the supply of good quality products fit for processing being actually short. At the same time, the coldstore supply of low quality products has been plenty. Many wholesalers, apart from retailers, owning processing facilities have expelled pink salmon from their range and kept the coldstore inventories for their own needs. Some regional wholesalers have been trading in small lots of products for further processing. One large wholesaler based in Moscow province says his company has been selling high quality pink salmon but no more than 10 tonnes to one customer. More and more traders have doubted about record strong catches of salmons in the Russian Far East, they say that the officially registered records have been much larger than actual catches. Other representatives of traders however say that there are coldstore inventories in Russia, but traders are holding them back waiting for a price peak. Targeted advertising and media pressure aimed at propagating overpricing in Russia have actually had their effects on the market. Consumption has risen with the prices being fairly low at the end of the season, and now when prices have increased the consumer is psychologically not ready for such a strong price rise.
The average price of head-on gutted pink salmon of good quality on the Moscow market amounts to RUR95.00-105.00 per kilo. Pink salmon of medium quality has been offered at about RUR88.00-92.00 per kilo. Pink salmon w/r has been marketed from RUR88.00 to RUR94.00 per kilo. Headed pink salmon has been available from RUR95.00 to RUR105.00 per kilo.
Prices for head-on gutted chum salmon amount to ca.RUR90.00-98.00 per kilo. Headed and gutted chum salmon has been offered at RUR90.00-105.00 per kilo.
Salmon caviar
According to the market participants, prices for salmon caviar on Moscow's market have been rising. The situation has been similar with that on the market of salmon species where there is a lack of high quality products.
Prices have been rising for salted caviar of premium quality and already reached RUR1200 per kilo.
As per the third week of February 2010 the offer prices of slightly salted salmon caviar of premium quality in Moscow have started from RUR1000 per kilo. Pink salmon caviar of medium quality has been offered at RUR950.00 per kilo.
Atlantic salmon and trout
As per the third week of February 2010, the market of Norwegian salmon and trout has been showing active price growth. The positive dynamics can be attributed to several factors including a gradual rise of prices for salmon in Norway observed in the course of several weeks, the rise telling on the Russian prices with a delay. Prices in Norway have been rising and experts have been forecasting positive dynamics in the coming weeks. Normally the prices rise as Easter gets closer, but this year the price rise has started much earlier. The level of NOK prices in Norway has exceeded the last year level by NOK10.00 per kilo. According to the Norwegian Export Bureau, the average export price for fresh and chilled salmon amounted to NOK31.84 per kilo on 1-7 February 2010 as compared to NOK29.69 per kilo on the previous week. Prices for frozen salmon have increased from NOK31.86 to NOK33.02 per kilo.
As per the third week of February 2010 many importers have been offering salmon still at comparably low prices, however the offer price from one large importer of Norwegian salmon has increased for all the sizes by ca.RUR25.00-30.00 per kilo. Norwegian trout has appreciated approximately by RUR20.00 per kilo.
Norwegian salmon SUPERIOR has been offered in Moscow from RUR235.00 per kilo of the size 4-5, from RUR245.00 per kilo of the size 5-6, from RUR253.00 per kilo of the size 6-7, from RUR255.00 per kilo of the size 7-8 and from RUR280.00 per kilo of the size 8-9.
Chilean salmon PREMIUM has been marketed from RUR215.00 per kilo of the size 4-5, from RUR235.00 per kilo of the size 5-6, from RUR245.00 per kilo of the size 6-7 and from RUR250.00 per kilo of the size 7-8.
Chilean salmon INDUSTRIAL has been traded from RUR185.00 per kilo of the size 4-5, from RUR215.00 per kilo of the size 5-6, from RUR225.00 per kilo of the size 6-7 and from RUR230.00 per kilo of the size 7-8.
As per the third week of February 2010 Norwegian trout SUPERIOR has been offered in Moscow at following prices: from RUR252.00 per kilo of the size 0.9-1.8, from RUR267.00 per kilo of the size 1.8-2.7, from RUR270.00 per kilo of the size 2.7-3.6, from RUR277.00 per kilo of the size 3.6-4.5, and from RUR280.00 per kilo of the sizes 4.5+.
Chilean trout PREMIUM has been available in Moscow from RUR225.00 per kilo of the size 0.9-1.8, from RUR235.00 per kilo of the size 1.8-2.7, from RUR255.00 per kilo of the size 2.7-4.0, from RUR245.00 per kilo of the size 3.6-4.5 and from RUR245.00 per kilo of the size 4.5+.
Rainbow trout of various sizes from Spain has been sold in Moscow from RUR200.00 per kilo.
Faroe trout has been traded from RUR245.00 per kilo of the size 2.7-3.6, from RUR255.00 per kilo of the size 3.6-4.5 and from RUR268.00 per kilo of the size 4.5+.
Herring
According to the Norwegian sources, the total harvest of spring spawning herring amounted to nearly 422,000 tonnes from the beginning of the year. The total auction sales of raw herring for further processing into food items amounted to 384,500 tonnes through the first one and a half months of the year (+57,000 tonnes on the sales volume in 2009). The average prices amounted to NOK2.21 per kilo (minus NOK0.06 per kilo). The auction sales from 8 to 15 February 2010 amounted to more than 60,000 tonnes of food herring of the Norwegian Sea at NOK2.18 per kilo on the average.
The situation on the Russian herring market has remained comparably stable with a certain upward pressure on prices for large herring, in particular 400+.
The offer prices for Russian herring in Murmansk amount to ca.RUR23.00-24.00 per kilo of the size 200-300 and ca.RUR28.50-29.00 per kilo of the size 300+ subject to large wholesale purchases.
Norwegian herring has been offered in Saint Petersburg at the following prices: from RUR28.00 per kilo of the size 300+, from RUR36.50 per kilo of the size 350+ and from RUR50.00-53.00 per kilo of the size 400+.
Norwegian butterfly herring fillets 5-8 have been traded in Saint-Petersburg from RUR46.00 per kilo, ex-coldstore, and the counts 6-10 and 8-12 have been offered correspondingly at RUR44.50 and RUR25.00-26.00 per kilo.
Icelandic herring fillets 4-8 and 5-8 have been offered ex-coldstore in Moscow at RUR47.00-49.00 per kilo.
Mackerel
As per the third week of February 2010, the Russian mackerel market has displayed mixed price trends with a fall of prices for imported mackerel 300-500 against a continuing rise of prices for the size 600+. Prices for products from Norway, Scotland and Ireland have been practically the same.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian mackerel has been offered from RUR61.00 per kilo of the size 200-400, from RUR71.00-73.00 per kilo of the size 300-500, from RUR105.00-115.00 per kilo of the size 400-600 and from RUR131.00-143.00 per kilo of the size 600+.
Scottish mackerel has been marketed in Saint Petersburg at the following prices: from RUR71.00-75.00 per kilo of the size 300-500, at RUR108.00-115.00 per kilo of the size 400-600 and at RUR130.00-143.00 per kilo of the size 600+.
Irish mackerel has been traded at RUR72.00 per kilo of the size 300-500, at RUR105.00 per kilo of the size 400-600 and at RUR130.00-143.00 per kilo of the size 600+ in Saint Petersburg.
Icelandic mackerel headed has been traded in Saint- Petersburg at RUR76.00 per kilo of the size 250+ and at RUR89.00 per kilo of the size 300+.
Russian headed mackerel has been offered ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg from RUR60.00 per kilo of the sizes 200-300 and 200-400 depending on producer and quality, mackerel 300+ has been sold at RUR95.00 per kilo.
Baltic herring, Baltic sprat
As per the third week of February 2010 prices for Baltic sprat have remained comparably on a par with the previous week.
In particular, Estonian sprat 10-12 cm has been sold from RUR16.00 per kilo ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg.
Swedish sprat 10-12 cm has been available at RUR26.00 per kilo in Saint Petersburg and RUR27.00 per kilo in Moscow.
As per the third week of February 2010, prices for Baltic herring have remained stable as compared to the previous week.
Russian herring 12-15 has been sold in Saint Petersburg at RUR21.00 per kilo ex-coldstore.
Estonian herring has been marketed ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg at RUR22.00-23.00 per kilo.
Finnish herring has been traded from RUR22.00 per kilo of the size 12-15 cm, RUR24.00 per kilo of the size 15-17.
Latvian herring 12-15 has been available ex-coldstore in Moscow at RUR22.00 per kilo.
Capelin
According to the Norwegian sources, the fishermen started to harvest capelin in the Grey Zone. As per 15 February 2010 the harvest amounted to 13,540 tonnes out of allowed 245,000 tonnes.
As per the second week of February 2010 the fishing activity on the Russian capelin grounds has considerably increased. In the Barents Sea the total harvest through the week amounted to 10,443 tonnes. The share of fish harvested by Kaliningrad-based fleets amounted to 24%. The capelin harvest from the beginning of the fishery has approximated 19,000 tonnes (ca.17%).
The first vessel with chilled and frozen capelin called at OAO Murmansk Marine Fish Port (plc). More specifically, Lazurnyi M-0342 trawler owned by OOO Iceberg-Nord (ltd) landed 790 tonnes of frozen capelin and 470 tonnes of chilled capelin. Other vessels were also heading for Murmansk to land their capelin catches there. The first landings of capelin were also made by the vessels owned by FOR Company in the port of Saint Petersburg.
As per the third week of February 2010 the first offers of newly caught capelin have appeared on the market at prices starting from RUR19.00-20.00 per kilo. Prices for capelin harvested in the previous year have been gradually declining.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian capelin has been available at following prices: RUR31.00-34.00 per kilo of the count 30-40, RUR29.00-32.00 per kilo of the count 35-45 and RUR27.50 per kilo of the count 40-50.
Icelandic capelin 30-40 has been offered at RUR30.00-35.00 per kilo in Saint Petersburg, while the size 35-45 has been available at RUR29.00-32.00 per kilo.
Canadian capelin has been offered at RUR30.00-33.00 per kilo of the size 30-40 in Saint Petersburg subject to prepayment.
Russian capelin harvested by Murmansk Trawl Fleet last year has been offered at RUR17.00-21.00 per kilo ex-coldstore in Murmansk. Capelin from the new harvest has been available from RUR19.00 per kilo.
Blue whiting
In the second week of February 2010 the blue whiting fishery was conducted on a limited scale in the south part of the Faroese fishing zone, where one or two Kaliningrad trawlers harvested 856 tonnes of blue whiting through the week. The total blue whiting harvest from the beginning of the year amounted to 2200 tonnes.
The total catch of blue whiting as reported by the Norwegian fishermen through the week amounted to more than 35,000 tonnes, 3300 tonnes of which were landed for further processing into food items in Ireland, Scotland and in the Faroe Islands. Prices ranged from NOK1.76 to NOK2.10 per kilo. The products enjoyed fairly strong demand.
On the Russian market prices for blue whiting have remained high, though in Saint Petersburg they have slightly decreased.
As per the third week of February 2010 Scottish blue whiting 25+ has been offered in Saint Petersburg at RUR39.00 per kilo. Russian blue whiting has been available in the city at RUR41.00-44.00 per kilo. In Moscow the offer price of Russian blue whiting has reached and even exceeded RUR50.00 per kilo.
Alaska pollock
According to provisional catch figures, the total pollock harvest from the beginning of the year 2010 in the Russian Far East amounted to nearly 330,000 tonnes.
The negative price trend from the beginning of February 2010 has continued with the prices gradually declining, though very slowly. The Chinese pollock fillets have also been depreciating.
At present prices for headed pollock 25+ in Vladivostok amount to RUR42.00-43.00 per kilo.
As per the third week of February 2010 prices for headed pollock in Moscow have been gradually declining. Pollock 20+ has been sold from RUR53.00 per kilo, while the sizes 25+, 30+ and 35+ have been correspondingly available from RUR55.00, RUR56.00 and RUR57.00 per kilo.
Skinned Chinese pollock fillets IQF ex-coldstore in Moscow have slightly depreciated to RUR60.00 per kilo of the count 6-8 and to RUR62.00 per kilo of the count 8+ subject to large wholesale lots.
Hake
As per the third week of February 2010, the hake prices on the Russian market have got stabilized. Prices for the South American products have remained stable.
US hake HGT 300-500 interleaved has been offered from RUR86.00-88.00 per kilo ex-coldstore in Moscow, while the size 250+ has been offered at RUR80.00 per kilo.
Canadian HGT hake 300-500 interleaved has been sold ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg from RUR85.00 per kilo. Canadian 300-600 IQF has been sold in Saint Petersburg from RUR85.00-88.00 per kilo.
In Moscow HGT hake IQF from Uruguay has been offered at ca.RUR74.00 per kilo of the size 200-400, at ca.RUR80.00 per kilo of the size 300-500 and at RUR83.00 per kilo of the size 500+. Meat in discs and cubes has been marketed from RUR58.00-64.00 per kilo.
Prices for Argentinean HGT hake amount to RUR97.00 per kilo of the size 500-800. Hake fillets 320+ and 120+ have been sold correspondingly at RUR139.00 and RUR130.00 per kilo.
Chinese hake fillets skin-on have been sold ex-coldstore in Moscow at RUR72.00 per kilo of the count 6-8 and from RUR73.00 per kilo of the count 8+.
Squid
The market participants have been reporting mixed trends on the squid market. In general the market has been showing a short supply. More specifically, the supply of squid harvested in the nation's Far East has been limited due to which prices have considerably jumped. Importers report zero supply of giant squid fillets from Peru. The coldstore inventories have been low in Europe as well, while the fishery has only started. The supply of Argentinean Illex squid has also been zero in Russia. Only cleaned tubes from China have been available on the market.
Prices for squid tubes in Vladivostok amount to ca.RUR75.00 per kilo on the average.
In Moscow Far East squid tubes have been prices at RUR85.00-90.00 per kilo on the average.
Cleaned squid tubes U10 and U5 of the Chinese origin have been traded from RUR110.00 and RUR115.00-120.00 per kilo correspondingly.
Pangasius
In the third week of February 2010 the situation on the pangasius market has remained stable. According to traders, just like tilapia, the market of pangasius has been showing declining coldstore inventories of imported products.
In Moscow and Saint Petersburg many large importers and wholesalers have continued asking RUR75.00-76.00 per kilo of the product.
Most of wholesale offers in Moscow have been fluctuating at RUR76.00-78.00 per kilo.
Tilapia
As per the third week of February 2010, prices on the market of tilapia fillets have been showing a negative trend. More specifically, after a dramatic rise the prices have started to descend now. Importers have been offering products from new shipments at new prices. The market supply has been growing.
In Saint Petersburg tilapia fillets 3-5 ounces have been offered from RUR129.00 per kilo subject to prepayment, while the size 5-7 has been marketed at RUR130.00 per kilo.
Most of Moscow-based wholesalers have been offering prices at RUR130.00-135.00 per kilo of the count 3-5 and RUR135.00-138.00 per kilo of the count 5-7.