Overview of seafood exports from the Russian Far East in January 2010

January 2010 was a typical month of low season in shipments of main seafood commodities from the Russian Far East and from the North Pacific in general. In many cases import of Russian products to main markets of Japan, South Korea and China grew less active. The Chinese official import statistics did even not reflect a rise of shipments of frozen pollock of the Russian origin, though activity of fishery itself was much higher than last year, according to the overview prepared by analysts of http://www.megafishnet.com/ (https://www.fishnet.ru/) based on Japanese and Russian sources.

Actually, in the recent couple of years the above mentioned official data could not but cause scepsis because, according to it, Russian pollock shipments to China looked tiny in volume terms. It is difficult to say what the reason behind such information discrepancies, but the fact is that the official data of the Chinese import speak about a multiple decline of frozen pollock import, while neither the Russian export data nor producers' reports confirm that.

Salmon

In January 2010 the volume of the Japanese import of frozen sockeye dropped nearly 50 times on December 2009, thus telling on actual suspension of shipments of products from the season of 2009 to the Japanese market. For comparison, in January 2009 the activity of Russian shipments remained fairly high with the total import volume exceeding 1000 metric tons. The total volume of seasonal import through the period from July 2009 amounted to ca.17,700 tonnes, 16% or ca.3500 tonnes down on shipments from the previous season from June to January, which is explained by the market specialists mostly by practically full suspension of shipments from Russian driftnet fishery.

At the same time, in January 2010 the average CIF prices were very strong close to 900 Yen per kilo, namely amounting to 870 Yen per kilo (approximately equal to 9.50 USD per kilo), while in the period of customs clearance of the bulk of seasonal import the prices were much below 550 Yen per kilo (ranging from 499 to 537 Yen per kilo). The January level of import prices was in compliance with that for driftnet salmon prices, but that could not be considered a sufficient ground for concluding that in January 2010 traders imported exactly driftnet salmon.

In the first month of the year 2010 import of frozen coho salmon of the Russian origin was not registered just like in 2009, and the import volume of other Pacific salmon species was limited to less than 10 tonnes. The average import price amounted to 500 Yen per kilo, which was much higher than the usual level for frozen chum salmon import.

The volume of the Chinese import of frozen Pacific salmon of the Russian origin (less sockeye) in January 2010 also remained quite low at only 120 tonnes (nearly 50 times down on December 2009). As compared to January 2009, when the active phase of the seasonal import still continued, in January 2010 import went down 25 times, but in general from July 2009 when China already imported ca.78,300 tonnes of products from the season of 2009, 230% up on the corresponding result for shipments from the season of 2008.

The average price of the Chinese import in January 2010 also seriously increased and turned out considerably higher than the price indices in the main phase of the seasonal import. The January result leveled at 2.60 USD per kilo CIF, while the average indications in the high season of shipments was beyond 1.80 USD per kilo and the price range amounted to 1.50-2.07 USD per kilo.

Salmon roe

The Japanese import of frozen salmon roe of the Russian origin in January 2010 was progressing even more briskly than in December 2009, though the season of the New Year and more active demand for processed salmon roe (salted and in soybean sauce) had already shut down and the consumer activity was expected to develop sluggishly for about 1.5-2 coming months. The volume of January import appeared to be close to the level of 500 tonnes, namely at ca.460 tonnes, nearly 140% up on December 2009 and 190% (or nearly 300 tonnes) up on January 2009. Taking into account that through the twelve months of 2009 the Japanese import of the Russian raw material jumped nearly by 215% to ca.3650 tonnes, the activity of the January import confirmed that in the season of 2009 the Russian and the Japanese sides found much larger spheres of contact of mutual interests than in the season of 2008 when the Russian producers were completely sure in very good prospects for domestic sales of sieved salmon roeю

The average import price declined, but only by 8% as compared to December 2009, to ca.1060 Yen per kilo. As compared to January 2009, when the offer prices of the Russian producers were much higher, it declined by 47%.

Cod & pollock

The volume of the Japanese import of frozen cod of the Russian origin in January 2010 went down nearly by 60% on December 2009 and amounted to 400 tonnes, however as compared to January 2009 it jumped nearly 9 times, therefore such level could hardly be regarded as low. The average import price amounted to ca.250 Yen per kilo, 8.5% down on December 2009 and less than 5% down on January 2009.

The officially reported Chinese import of frozen Russian pollock in the opening month of the year 2010 amounted to only 1700 tonnes, 66% down on January 2009 when the result was low. At the same time, the average import price amounted to ca.2.20 USD per kilo versus ca.1.90 USD per kilo in January 2009, thus rising nearly by 15%. Such a high level of prices was more typical for cod imports rather than pollock.

Pollock & cod roe

The Japanese import of Russian products remained weak in January 2010, while the South Korean import was much quicker than last year, the Chinese import also growing brisker. However, the above developments could hardly encourage noticeable changes in the total results of shipments from the season of 2009 to main directions.

The volume of the Japanese import was limited to less than 250 tonnes in January 2010, 35% down on December 2009 and 66% down on January 2009. In the twelve months of 2009 Japan imported only ca.16,100 tonnes of the Russian raw, 19% down on 2008, such character of the January import was quite predictable.

The South Korean import of Russian products in January 2010 declined on December 2009, though only by 13%, and as compared to January 2009 it increased by more than 170%. In general, in 2009 import of the Russian raw material to South Korea grew also seriously, by 85% namely, to ca.5900 tonnes.

Import to China (which could be partly represented by other fish roe rather than pollock roe) increased by 66% on December 2009 and 136% on January 2010, but it was limited to less than 120 tonnes. The total import volume to these directions in January 2010 amounted to 600 tonnes, 31% down on January 2009 and 17% down on December 2009.

During the whole year 2009 Japan, China and South Korea imported only 25,300 tonnes of the Russian raw, 7% (2000 tonnes) down on 2008, therefore the January development was generally in keeping with the main trends of shipments from the season of 2009 (the only discrepancy was that in January 2010 import to China increased, while the annual volume of shipments declined by more than 20% to only ca.3400 tonnes).

While the average price of the Chinese import in January 2010 was limited to only ca.0.50 USD per kilo (in 2009 the average result leveled at 8.25 USD per kilo), prices for shipments to Japan jumped to more than 1260 Yen per kilo, 47% or ca.400 Yen per kilo up on the average result of 2009. The average indices for shipments to South Korea reached 8.90 USD per kilo, 25% up on the result of 2009.

However, with very limited volumes of the January import the above results could not exert considerable influence on the general price trends which was observed in shipments of products from the season of 2009 (the average prices for import to Japan decreased by 31% on 2008 to 860 Yen per kilo, the average indications for import to China fell by 26%, and the respective result for South Korea went down by 19% to less than 7.15 USD per kilo). Against the background of the current situation on the Japanese market of pollock roe and with regard to expectations of very high production level on the Russian fishing grounds that would by no means encourage formation of strong prices for products from the season 2010.

Herring

The Japanese import of frozen herring of the Russian origin declined by 37% on December 2009 to less than 300 tonnes, and as compared to January 2009 it fell by as much as 85% (the total result for 2009 decreased by 38% or nearly 3000 tonnes to only 5000 tonnes). The average import price remained practically unchanged on December 2009 to ca.80 Yen per kilo (last year it declined by 25% to below 100 Yen per kilo).

Import of Russian herring fillets to Japan in January 2010 grew much slower with the total volume slightly exceeding 400 tonnes, 21% down on December 2009 and 50% down on January 2009 (through twelve months of 2009 the herring fillet import declined by 26% or by more than 2000 tonnes to less than 5700 tonnes). The average import price in January 2010 rose by more than 10% on December 2009 to 380 Yen per kilo, but it still appeared to be much below the result of January 2009.

Bottomfish

The Chinese import of frozen halibut of the Russian origin in January 2010 amounted to less than 200 tonnes, still 10% up on last year. Serious changes touched the structure of shipments at the expense of complete suspension of shipments of white halibut, but nevertheless the average import price rose by more than 100% to 2.50 USD per kilo.

The volume of the Japanese import of Russian halibut in January 2010 amounted to less than 160 tonnes, more than 40% down on December 2009 and 47% down on January 2009. The average import price remained practically unchanged on December 2009 and amounted to ca.535 Yen per kilo, still 12% down on January 2009.

The Chinese import of frozen Russian flounder in January 2010 was developing much more actively than last year. The total import volume through the month amounted to 500 tonnes, seven times up on January 2009. The average import price was formed at 2.10 USD per kilo, 60% on the last year result.

Japan imported ca.20 tonnes of Russian flounder, four times down on December 2009 and five times up on January 2009. The average import price through the month rose by 4% but only to 220 Yen per kilo, 23% up on the result of January 2009.

The volume of the Japanese import of Russian ocean perch declined by 41% on December 2009 and 21% on January 2009. In 2009 the Japanese import decreased by 14% to only ca.4400 tonnes. The average import price through the month rose by 3% to ca.355 Yen per kilo, but in general the price situation remained fairly stable.

The Japanese import of Atka mackerel from the Russian grounds dramatically increased and the total volume of shipments cleared by customs amounted to nearly 2000 tonnes, 1000 tonnes up on December 2009 and 500 tonnes up on January 2009. The total result for 2009 rose approximately by 1500 tonnes to 21,500 tonnes. The average import price through the month increased by 5.5% (evidently only at the expense of a certain weakening of Yen to USD exchange rate) to ca.230 Yen per kilo, but as compared to January 2009 the price appeared to be 29% higher (in 2009 it rose by 12% to 220 Yen per kilo).

Shrimp

The Japanese import of frozen shrimp of the Russian origin in January 2010 grew dramatically slower with the total import volume amounting to only 450 tonnes, 45% down on December 2009 and 25% down on January 2009. The average import price through the month decreased by 28% to only ca.835 Yen per kilo, 31% down on January 2009 (presumably, the price level sank so greatly because of a dramatic decline of the share of coonstripe shrimp in the total volume of shipments).

Crab

The Chinese import of frozen crab of the Russian origin in January 2010 was limited to less than 300 tonnes, more than twice down on December 2009 and 10% down on January 2009. Just like in January 2009, the average import price appeared to be below 2.00 USD per kilo and amounted to only 1.95 USD per kilo (in January-December 2009 when the import volume amounted to ca.5700 tonnes, 19% down on 2008, it leveled at 3.10 USD per kilo, 12% up on last year).

The Japanese import of frozen red king crab of the Russian origin amounted to less than 200 tonnes, 38% down on December 2009 and 43% down on January 2009. However, the average import price rose nearly by 10% and approximated 1300 Yen per kilo, still 7% down on January 2009, while the average import price for Norwegian products amounted to only ca.1040 Yen per kilo, 25% down on last year.

Import of frozen snow crab went down by one third through the month and amounted to only ca.450 tonnes, but in January 2009 the import volume amounted to only ca.300 tonnes. The average import price in January 2010 amounted to ca.630 Yen per kilo, 25% down on December 2009 and nearly twice down on January 2009.

Officially registered import of live Russian crab to Japan in January 2010 declined very noticeably on last year, both on December and January 2009. However, that could hardly confirm rising efficiency of measures against illegal fishing. Nevertheless, if the import volumes kept declining in February 2010, there would be grounds to speak about a start of a new market trend.

In January 2010 the total import volume amounted to ca.230 tonnes of red king crab, 60% down on December 2009 and 70% down on January 2009. Import of live snow crab more than halved during the month and amounted to 680 tonnes, 31% down on January 2009. Import of live hairy crab in January 2009 declined by more than 80% to only a little more than 30 tonnes, 40% down on the import volume in January 2009.

However, even against a serious decrease of import shipments no stable increase of prices was observed (some market specialists doubted the fact of actual decrease of shipments). The average import price of live red king crab in January 2010 declined by 35% to only 720 Yen per kilo, ca.100 Yen per kilo down on January 2009. The average import price of live snow crab in the first month of 2010 rose by 20% and exceeded 385 Yen per kilo, but even after that it was still below 390 Yen per kilo. The average import price of live hairy crab declined by 8% through the month to 1060 Yen per kilo, 10% down on January 2009.

Sea urchins

The Japanese import of Russian products went down by 37% on December 2009 to 700 tonnes, but still 15% up on the import volume in January 2009. The average import price through the month rose by 8.5% to ca.735 Yen per kilo, approximately on a par with the result of 2009.