Overview of Moscow's freshfrozen fish market as per third week of June 2010
Active fishing operations continued in the Russian Far East where the fleets were targeting Alaska pollock, Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, etc. Good catches of cod, haddock, blue whiting were reported in the North Basin, Atlanto-Scandian herring fishery was also fuelling while the fishing vessels in Kaliningrad-led West Basin were targeting horse mackerel and redfish.
The prices of chilled Atlantic salmon, pangasius and tilapia fillets were unstable. The prices of Alaska pollock were still decreasing, prices of herring (due to the beginning of the fishing season) and squid showed first movements. A shortage of whole North American hake was still noticeable, as well as a lack of medium-sized Atlantic salmon and large mackerel and Pacific squid.
As per the third week of June due to the market reluctance there were no upward movements of prices.
Salmon season started in the Russian Far East. Salmon runs are expected to amount to about 340,000 tonnes this year if not less taking into account the last scientific research results.
In the Russian Far East commercial capture quotas were auctioned with participation of fishing companies from Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Kamchatka and Sakhalin. The quotas of such species as shrimp (Pandalus goniurus), cod, Alaska pollock and thorny head were distributed at the auction.
Among the auction winners were Kamline Company based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Nord Line DV based in Vladivostok, Triera based in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, fishing cooperative Imeni Chapaeva based in Sovetskaya Gavan, Uluul (Kamchatka-based) and Orion based in Khabaravsk.
Since 1 January 2010 the total catch of Russian fishing companies amounted to 1,798,000 tonnes, 277,400 tonnes up on the same period 2009. TACs were covered at 44.6%, an increase of 18.2% from the previous year level.
Atlantic salmon/trout
Export prices in Norway stopped increasing. During 7-13 June 2010 the average price of chilled Atlantic salmon continued decreasing the third week running and amounted to NOK 37.16 per kilo (minus 2.3% in comparison with the previous period level).
According to a representative of a large Moscow processor, in the third week of June 2010 they had some problems with purchases of chilled salmon raw material. Namely, they managed to find only the offers of Atlantic salmon 3-4 and 7-8 at RUR290.00-296.00 per kilo on the market.
Generally, the average prices of chilled products offered by importers amounted to about RUR240.00-290.00 per kilo of Norwegian salmon, RUR295.00-315.00 per kilo of Faroese trout and RUR300.00-320.00 per kilo of Norwegian trout.
As for frozen products, as per third week of June 2010 the prices of Norwegian salmon increased slightly while the prices of Chilean trout decreased.
In Moscow the Norwegian salmon SUPERIOR was traded at RUR290.00 per kilo of the size 6-7, at RUR295.00 of the size 7-8, at RUR298.00 of the size 8-9 and RUR290.00 of the size 9-10.
The Chilean trout PREMIUM was offered at RUR235.00 per kilo of the size 0.9-1.8, at RUR242.00 per kilo of the size 1.8-2.7, at RUR260.00 per kilo of the size 2.7-4.0.
Rainbow trout head-on, gutted from Spain was offered from RUR182.00 per kilo.
Pink salmon/Chum salmon
Salmon season too off in the Russian Far East. The catch of salmon species from the beginning of driftnet operations to the third week of June 2010 amounted to 2,270 tonnes, while the catch of sockeye amounted to 1,600 tonnes, pink salmon - 600 tonnes.
As per the third week of June 2010 products with extended shelflife were left as coldstore inventories. Many large companies decreased supply prices. Average supply price of Kamchatka-produced pink salmon head-on, gutted amounted to ca. RUB65.00 per kilo, while head-on, gutted pink salmon of better quality from Sakhalin was offered at RUR70.00-75.00 per kilo. Head-off, gutted pink salmon was offered at RUR75.00-80.00 per kilo.
In Moscow the minimal price of head-on, gutted pink salmon amounted to 59.00 per kilo while the whole pink salmon decreased in price to RUR54.00 per kilo.
In Moscow the price of chum salmon of the first grade amounted to ca.RUR75.00 per kilo. The demand for chum salmon was weak.
Caviar
The sales of salmon caviar were flat. Lightly salted caviar was still offered from RUR110.00 to RUR130.00 per 140-gram can depending on quality. Pink and chum salmon in bulk was traded from RUR900.00 to RUR1050.00 per kilo.
Herring
According to the latest information, one large-scale trawler from Murmansk resumed Atlanto-Scandian herring in the open part of the Norwegian Sea. Weekly catch amounted to 1,600 tonnes (1,300 tonnes more) producing mainly Atlantic whole frozen herring 200-300 and Atlantic whole frozen large herring 200+, first grade.
As per the third week of June 2010, the herring market was characterized by downward price trends. Namely, supply prices of large importers of herring 350+ decreased.
In St. Petersburg Norwegian herring 300+ was offered from RUR33.50 per kilo, herring 350+ - from RUB37.50 per kilo and herring 400+ was traded from RUR57.00 per kilo.
Wholesalers in Murmansk offered poorly graded herring classified as large and fat of the size 200-300 at RUR25.00 per kilo, ex-coldstore.
Russian herring was offered in Saint Petersburg at the following prices: from RUR25.50 per kilo of the size 200-300, from RUR32.00 per kilo of the size 300+.
Norwegian butterfly herring fillets 5-8 have been traded in Saint-Petersburg from RUR50.00 per kilo and the count 6-10 has been offered at RUR46.00-47.00 per kilo.
Herring fillets 6-10 and 7-12 made by Murmansk Trawl Fleet have been traded in Moscow at RUR41.00-42.00 per kilo.
Mackerel
As the Parties failed to come to an agreement on mackerel fishery regulations in 2010 in the NEAFC waters, Russia notified the Secretariat of the NEAFC of the intention to harvest in the NEAFC waters 45,321 tonnes of mackerel. The corresponding orders of Russia's Federal Fisheries Agency about quota distribution among holders have been published at the official website of the authority (Order No. 449 and No. 450 dated 14, May 2010). The catch volume under the question has been the largest of all years of mackerel fisheries regulation.
Mackerel catch of Russian vessels in the open part of the Norwegian Sea exceeded 45,000 tonnes only once - in 1998 when the fishery was not under regulations agreement.
Norwegian fishing operations in small scales was gradually spreading along the Norwegian coast to 64-65 degree to the North. In the third week less than 90 tonnes were landed with average size of the fish 400 - 450gr.
Russian mackerel catches were not large yet amounting to 374 tonnes in the North Fisheries Basin and 420 tonnes in the West Fisheries Basing.
As per the third week of June 2010 the mackerel market kept showing a shortage. There were no offers of the size 600+ on the market while the sizes 400-600 were also in shortage.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian mackerel was offered from RUR56.00 per kilo of the size 200-400, RUR75.00-77.00 per kilo of the size 300-500 and from RUR 110.00 per kilo of the size 400-600.
French mackerel 350-550 was offered at RUR83.00 per kilo in Saint Petersburg.
Mackerel 300-500 originating from the Netherlands was traded in Moscow at RUR71.00-77.00 per kilo while the mackerel 400-600 was offered at RUB110.00 per kilo.
Spanish mackerel 400-600 was offered at RUR80.00 per kilo.
Baltic herring/Baltic sprat
As per 8, June 2010 Russian catches of sprat in the Baltic Sea amounted to 11,700 tonnes, 1500 tonnes down on the previous year level. The catch volume in Azov-Black Sea amounted to 2700 tonnes, a decrease of 1000 tonnes from the previous year level.
The catch volume of Baltic herring in the Caspian Sea amounted to 2100 tonnes, 600 tonnes down on the previous year level.
As per the third week of June 2010, traders reported stable prices of the Baltic herring from the previous week level.
In particular, Estonian sprat 10-12 cm was sold from RUR16.90 per kilo ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg.
Russian Baltic herring was offered from RUR19.00 per kilo in St. Petersburg.
In St. Petersburg Finnish herring was traded from RUR19.50 per kilo of the size 12-15 cm, RUR21.00-22.00 per kilo of the size 15-17
Swedish herring 14-18 was marketed at RUR25.00 per kilo in Saint Petersburg.
Russian herring 18+ was offered in St. Petersburg at RUB26.00 per kilo.
Capelin
As per the third week of June 2010, the situation on the capelin market has not changed.
In Saint Petersburg Norwegian capelin was available at following prices: 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 35-45 and RUR23.00 per kilo of the count 40-50.
In Moscow capelin harvested by Murmansk Trawl Fleet was available at RUR22.50-26.00 per kilo of the count 40-50.
Russian capelin was offered at RUR18.00-21.00 per kilo ex-coldstore in Murmansk depending on quality.
Blue whiting
The Russian fishery of blue whiting in the Faroese fishing zone moved to the North East, the stock actively migrating to the north to the feeding grounds of the Norwegian Sea, catches being unstable. From 1 June to 8 June 2010 Russian fishermen harvested about 2,325 tonnes of blue whiting. The vessels operating in the North Fisheries Basin harvested 1,818 tonnes, while in the West Fisheries Basin - 506 tonnes.
As per 15 June 2010 Norwegian catch of blue whiting exceeded 182,000 tonnes since the beginning of the year 2010. Quota take-up amounted to 205,800 tonnes or 89%.
Prices of blue whiting as per the third week of June 2010 remained relatively stable.
In Saint Petersburg Scottish blue whiting 25+ was sold ex-coldstore at RUR28.00 per kilo. Norwegian blue whiting was offered at RUR27.00 per kilo, ex-coldstore. Russian blue whiting made by Murmansk Trawl Fleet was marketed in Murmansk at RUR25.00-25.50 per kilo, at RUR25.50-26.50 per kilo of blue whiting made by FOR in Saint Petersburg.
Alaska pollock
In 8-15 June 2010 catch volume of Alaska pollock in the Russian Far East amounted to ca.12,200 tonnes.
The situation on the market was characterized by negative price trends. The prices of Alaska pollock continued decreasing especially of APO of the small sizes. The prices of Chinese APO fillets increased slightly.
In Moscow headed pollock was available from RUR41.00 per kilo of the size 20+, RUR43.00 per kilo of the size 25+, from RUR44.50 per kilo of the size 30+ and from RUR46.00 per kilo of the size 35+.
Chinese skinned IQF APO fillets of the count of 6-8 have been offered by many suppliers in Moscow from RUR54.00 per kilo, the count 8+ was available at prices from RUR54.00 subject to large wholesale lots
Hake
As per the third week of June a shortage of hake from the North America was perceived on the market. There were practically no offers of this species on the market. The prices of hake fillets of the Chinese origin fell.
In St. Petersburg American hake HGT 300-500 of May 2010 season was offered at RUB84.00, ex-vessel, while the HGT hake of the size 200-400 was marketed at RUR82.00 per kilo. There were offers of Canadian HGT hake of the size 300+ at RUR89.00 per kilo, Moscow, ex-coldstore.
In St. Petersburg HGT hake IQF from Uruguay was offered at RUB77.00 per kilo of the size 150-250, at RUR77.00 per kilo of the size 500+. Meat in discs and cubes was offered from RUR58.00-65.00 per kilo.
In St. Petersburg HGT hake from Argentina was marketed at RUB81.00 per kilo of the size 200-300, at RUR84.00 per kilo of the size 250-350, at RUR93.50 per kilo of the size 350-500. The hake fillets 60-120 were available at RUB124.00 per kilo, while the fillets 100-250 were marketed at RUR123.00 per kilo.
HGT hake 100-200 interleaved produced in Spain was offered in Moscow at RUR82.00 per kilo, while the size 200-300 was available at RUR84.00 per kilo.
Chinese hake fillets skin-on 6-8 and 8+ were sold ex-coldstore in Moscow from RUR67.00 per kilo. Cubes were marketed at RUR60.00 per kilo.
Squid
From 8 to 15 June 2010 the fishermen of the Russian Far East harvested 760 tonnes of magister squid and 260 tonnes of other squid species. As per 16 June 2010 leading fishing company NBAMR harvested 1,730 tonnes of squid.
As per the third week of June the situation on the squid market has remained stable. The lowest supply price of the Russia-produced squid tube amounted to ca. RUR76.00 per kilo, subject to prepayment. Average supply price amounted to ca.RUR80.00 per kilo, subject to prepayment. Squid tentacles were marketed at RUR55.00 per kilo.
Cleaned squid tubes U10 and U5 of the Chinese origin were traded in Saint Petersburg from RUR110.00-120.00 and RUR115.00-130.00 per kilo correspondingly.
Giant squid fillets from Peru were available from RUR45.00 to RUR48.00 per kilo.
Pangasius
As per the third week of June 2010 the prices of pangasius fillets showed mixed trends. The lowest supply price became stable while the average price level decreased.
In Moscow and St. Petersburg the average supply price of large importers and wholesalers varied from RUR68.50-69.00 per kilo.
Average price level of the majority of wholesalers amounted to ca. RUR71.00-74.00 per kilo.
Pangasius fillets in cubes were offered at a price from RUR53.00 per kilo.
Tilapia
As per the third week of June the situation on the Russian tilapia market has stabilized.
Large importers offered tilapia at RUR92.00 ex-vessel, while at RUR97.00 per kilo, ex-coldstore.
The sizes 5-7 ounces were offered at RUR100.00 per kilo, ex-vessel, while the same sizes ex-coldstore were available at RUR102.00 per kilo.
Average price level of the majority of wholesalers amounted to RUB105.00-108.00 per kilo of fillet 5-7 ounces and RUR100.00-105.00 per kilo of fillet 3-5.
Atlantic cod
According to the figures of National Monitoring System for Fisheries and Communication, the cod catch in the North Fisheries Basin amounted to 132,900 tonnes that was 15,500 tonnes more in comparison with the same period of the previous year.
In Murmansk the prices of H&G Atlantic cod IQF amounted to ca. RUR75.00 per kilo of the size 0.5-1+ and of block frozen cod at RUR65.00 per kilo.
Skinned cod fillet IQF produced in Murmansk was available in St. Petersburg from RUR120.00 per kilo.
Pacific cod H&G frozen in blocks was traded in Moscow at RUR70.00 - 72.00 per kilo of the size 1.5+, 2+.