Overview of seafood exports from the Russian Far East in January-November 2009
In November 2009 shipments of main seafood commodities from the Russian Far East to main markets have remained fairly difficult both in terms of volumes and prices. The only exception has been made by shipments of pink salmon to China, sockeye, frozen salmon roe and Atka mackerel to Japan, according to the overview prepared by analysts of http://www.fishnet-russia.com/ (https://www.fishnet.ru/) based on Japanese and Russian sources.
Import of frozen snow crab to the USA and frozen pollock roe to South Korea has been also developing actively, but prices for these shipments have been much below the results of November 2008. On the other side, prices for the Japanese import have been under great influence of strong Yen exchange rate playing a key role in the actual price situation on the market.
Salmon
In November 2009 the Japanese import of frozen sockeye of the Russian origin continued slowing down in accordance with the normal development of seasonal shipments. Through the month under analysis the Japanese buyers imported ca.1750 tonnes, 43% down on October 2009, but as compared to 2008 the November import jumped by 170%. Nevertheless, even such a strong rise of the November import did not exert a decisive influence on the total result for January-November 2009 which appeared to be 15% weaker than the result of 2008 and amounted to only 18,500 tonnes.
Import of frozen coho salmon from Russia to Japan sank by 92% to only ca.45 tonnes, while import of chum salmon and other Pacific salmon species decreased by 45% to 1730 tonnes, though the import volume in November 2009 jumped by 52% to 200 tonnes. Prices for shipments of coho salmon mostly remained on a par with 2008 (the average import price CIF amounted to ca.325 Yen per kilo for the period under analysis), while indications for chum salmon shipments declined approximately by 10% (the average import price amounted to ca.265 Yen per kilo). In the meantime, sockeye import prices remained at the level of 2008 (the average import price through the period amounted to 520 Yen per kilo), which could be taken as producers' success against the backgrounds of absent shipments of driftnet products and much stronger exchange rate of Yen versus USD.
Import of frozen Pacific salmon of the Russian origin to China, unlike the Japanese import, considerably increased last year, which, along with the record high pink salmon catches, could be also attributed to greater interest in the Russian raw from the Chinese processors. In November 2009 the import volume amounted to 12,800 tonnes, 28% down on October 2009, but five times up on November 2008. The total import volume from January to November 2009 grew by 285% to 76,500 tonnes (less sockeye), of which only ca.3500 tonnes were contributed by products from the season of 2008.
The average import price in November 2009 rose by 28% on October 2009 and reached the level of 2.00 USD per kilo, namely amounting to 2.07 USD per kilo CIF, which was the highest result in the year 2009. As compared to November 2008, the average import price in the eleventh month of 2009 appeared to be higher, though only by 3.5%, but the average indications through the period from the start of the year dropped by 8% to lower than 1.80 USD per kilo.
Herring
The Japanese import of frozen herring of the Russian origin in November 2009 more than doubled as compared to October 2009 and November 2008, but it still amounted to only 200 tonnes, and the total volume of shipments of the Russian raw material went down by 40% to 4600 tonnes. The average import price in November 2009 remained at 90 Yen per kilo, and through the period under analysis it appeared to be slightly below 100 Yen per kilo, thus displaying a decrease by more than 25%.
Import of frozen Russian herring fillets to Japan in November 2009 grew by 8% on October 2009, but still failed to reach 500 tonnes, one third down on November 2008. The total volume of shipments through the period from January 2009 to November 2009 was limited to less than 5150 tonnes, 25% down on the corresponding result of 2008. The average import price in November 2009 amounted to ca.370 Yen per kilo, 13% up on October 2009, but still below 430 Yen per kilo in November 2008. Through the period of the first eleven months of the year the average indications remained on the level of the previous year at ca.390 Yen per kilo.
Pollock and other cod species
The Japanese import of frozen pollock of the Russian origin rose to 24 tonnes in November 2009, while import of cod grew to 780 tonnes, 4% up on the import volume in October 2009. As compared to November 2008, the pollock import volume sank nearly ten times, while import of cod rose by 20%. Nevertheless, from January to November 2009 import of cod declined by 3.5% to 2240 tonnes, and import of pollock jumped by 40% to 510 tonnes. The average import price of cod still remained at 260-270 Yen per kilo, while in November 2008 it remained at 400 Yen per kilo, and in general through the period of the first eleven months of the year 2009 the import price amounted to ca.470 Yen per kilo. As for shipments of frozen pollock they remained practically unchanged at 170 Yen per kilo.
Import of Russian products to China, mostly contributed by pollock, but partly by cod and other congener species, in November 2009 was limited to less than 5800 tonnes, 36% down on November 2008. The total volume of shipments from January to November 2009 did not reach 70,000 tonnes and amounted to only ca.69,300 tonnes, 71% down on the import volume through the same period of 2008, when the import dynamics was not very brisk. The total volume of the Chinese (official) import of pollock, cod and other cod species (haddock, saithe, hake, longfin codling Laemonema, hoki, etc.) from all the sources was limited to only 140,000 tonnes, at least 200,000 tonnes down on the result of 2008, and such a small import volume officially reported by the Chinese customs could not but cause serious doubts.
Bottomfish
The Japanese import of frozen halibut of the Russian origin (less arrowtooth flounder) in November 2009 went down by 41% on October 2009 to only 350 tonnes, and through the period from the start of the year the import volume amounted to only 325 tonnes, 40% down on the corresponding result of 2008. The average import price rose from 500 to 560 Yen per kilo, but as compared to 2008 it decreased by 17%. The average indications through the period under analysis dropped by 14% to ca.565 Yen per kilo.
The Chinese import of frozen Russian halibut in November 2009 amounted to only 220 tonnes, 41% down on November 2008, and the total result from January 2009 to November 2009 it amounted to ca.2230 tonnes, 19% down on the same result of 2008. The average import price in November 2009 leveled at ca.2.70 USD per kilo (only black halibut import was registered), but through the period under analysis it was limited only to 1.75 USD per kilo, 39% down on 2008.
The Japanese import of frozen flounder of the Russian origin in autumn 2009 was developing very sluggishly and the total result in October and November 2009 the import volumes failed to reach even 20 tonnes, and the total volume of shipments through the period from January 2009 was limited only to 1000 tonnes, 60% down on the result of 2008. The average price level in the first eleven months of the year went down by 21% to 230 Yen per kilo, with the average indications in November 2009 amounting to only ca.195 Yen per kilo.
In November 2009 China imported only 720 tonnes of the Russian products, 53% down on November 2008, and in January-November 2009 the Chinese import of frozen flounder from Russia went down by 38% to only 10,600 tonnes. The average import price in November 2009 was at the level of 1.20 USD per kilo, approximately 0.20 USD per kilo up on the result of November 2008. The average indications through the period from January 2009 were in keeping with the previous year result of ca.1.15 USD per kilo.
The Japanese import of frozen ocean perch of the Russian origin in November 2009 dramatically fell to only 150 tonnes, nearly nine times down on October 2009 and three times down on November 2008. Through the period under analysis the import volume went down by 18% to 3900 tonnes. The average import price in November 2009 rose to the level of 350 Yen per kilo versus less than 330 Yen per kilo in October 2009, but in November 2008 it was close to 400 Yen per kilo. Through the period under analysis the average price indications dropped approximately by 50 Yen per kilo or 12.5% to 340 Yen per kilo.
Import of Russian Atka mackerel to Japan in November 2009 also developed fairly actively, its volume went down only by 12% on October 2009 and settled at 3000 tonnes, four times up on the import volume in November 2008. The result for January-November 2009 exceeded the corresponding result of 2008 by more than 3000 tonnes or 18% and amounted to ca.20,600 tonnes. The average import price in November 2009 rose to 235 Yen per kilo versus 215 Yen per kilo in October 2009 practically to the level of November 2008, while the average indications through the period under analysis amounted to ca.220 Yen per kilo, 15% up on the previous year result, which was a fairly strong result taking into account much higher Yen to USD exchange rate in the recent months.
Roe products
The total import of the Russian frozen pollock roe to Japan, China and South Korea in November 2009 amounted to 450 tonnes, approximately 25% down on the result of November 2008. The total import from the start of the year amounted to ca.24,600 tonnes, 7.5% or practically 2000 tonnes down on the respective result of 2008. At the same time, import to South Korea jumped by 90% to 5600 tonnes, while import to Japan and China went down correspondingly by 20% and 17% to 15,700 and 3300 tonnes.
The average import price for shipments to South Korea in November 2009 increased by 27% on October 2009 to ca.8.60 USD per kilo CIF, but through the period of eleven months it amounted to only ca.7.10 USD per kilo, thus displaying a decrease of 18% on the result of the previous year. As for shipments to Japan, the average price in November 2009 was lower than in October 2009 by 9% and amounted to ca.680 Yen per kilo, but the average indications through the period under analysis leveled at 860 Yen per kilo, 31% down on 2008. The average price for shipments to China in January-November 2009 amounted to ca.8.35 USD per kilo, 26% down on the same period of 2008. The outlook for prices of products from the new fishing season caused even more serious concerns of the market specialists.
Even after a 26% decrease in November 2009 as compared to October 2009 import of frozen salmon roe of the Russian origin to Japan still jumped by 78% on November 2008 to ca.1050 tonnes. The total import volume by the end of November 2009 amounted to ca.3450 tonnes, 264% up on January-November 2008. The average import price through the period leveled at 1200 Yen per kilo, 35% down on the corresponding result of 2008.
The Japanese import of salted herring roe of the Russian origin in November 2009 was limited to less than 30 tonnes versus 160 tonnes in October 2009. The result for the first eleven months of the year 2009 amounted to ca.450 tonnes, 21% down on the respective result of 2008. The average import price from January 2009 amounted to ca.1055 Yen per kilo, rising by 9% on the corresponding result of 2008.
Crabs
In November 2009 the US import of frozen king crab grew brisker, which was quite predictable, but the growth rates appeared to be much smaller than in 2008. As compared to October 2009, the import volume of the Russian products jumped by 52%, but it was still limited to 900 tonnes, 32% down on the import volume to the USA in November 2008. Nevertheless, through the previous ten months of the year the accumulated increase grew large, due to which the total result for the period from January to November 2009 reached 12,800 tonnes, 7% up on the result of 2008. However, the fishery situation in late 2009 developed so that the forecasts on a decrease of the annual import volume from Russia grew more realizable.
The price rise in November 2009 was much more blistering than that in November 2008. The average import price (FAS or ex-transport vessel) rose as compared to October 2009 by 20% or ca.2.50 USD per kilo reaching 15.20 USD per kilo, while in November 2008 it rose by less that 10% or ca.1.40 USD per kilo. Even after such a strong rise prices for the Russian shipments still remained 13% lower than in 2008 and the total figures for January-November 2009 amounted to only ca.15.50 USD per kilo, 7.5% down on the respective result of 2008.
Import of frozen Russian snow crab to the USA, unlike import of red king crab, in November 2009 was developing much more actively than in November 2008. The import volume rose nearly by 300% thanks to which the total volume of shipments from January 2009 already exceeded the level of 2008 by 9%. However, the average import price appeared to be exclusively low at the level of only 3.70 USD per kilo, 35% down on the level of November 2008. The average indications for the period from the start of the year dropped by 12% to only 5.60 USD per kilo.
The Chinese import of frozen Russian crab in November 2009 was limited to only 360 tonnes, 60% down on November 2008. As compared to October 2009 it also decreased, though only by 2.5%, and the trends of slow dynamics of shipments was observed already starting from September 2009. The total import volume from January to November 2009 still reached the level of 5000 tonnes and amounted to 5080 tonnes, but that was 22% down on the import volume in 2008. As compared to 2007, import from Russia decreased already by 59%. The Chinese total import of the Russian frozen crab in 2009 was forecasted to decline at least by 1500 tonnes.
The average price of the Chinese import of frozen crab products of the Russian origin traditionally remained at a very low level. Even despite very weak activity of shipments the average price in November 2009 leveled at only 3.20 USD per kilo, and in general through the period it amounted to only 3.15 USD per kilo, approximately 10-15% up on the result of the previous two years, but that was much below the price for shipments from Canada and the USA, normally amounting to 4.00 USD per kilo.
The Japanese import of frozen crab from Russia also considerably declined. Shipments of red king crab (partly, blue king crab as well) in November 2009 grew slightly brisker, and its volume rose by 21% on October 2009, but it was limited to only 850 tonnes, 39% down on November 2008. The import volume through the period from January 2009 went down by 36% to only 5250 tonnes. Import of frozen snow crab in November 2009 remained at the level of October 2009 and amounted to only ca.680 tonnes, 35% down on November 2008. The total volume of shipments from January to November 2009 declined by 9% to ca.10,900 tonnes.
Despite such a strong decrease of the import volume prices were much smaller than in 2008. The November result for shipments of red king crab appeared to be 30% down on October 2009 and amounted to ca.1340 Yen per kilo. As for shipments of snow crab opilio the volume went down by 20% to only ca.680 Yen per kilo. Through the period from January 2009 the average price for frozen Russian red king crab imported to Japan came down by 24% to only ca.1390 Yen per kilo. The average import price of frozen snow crab fell by 23% to 870 Yen per kilo.
Prices of live Russian crab also showed strong price falls. More specifically, in November 2009 the average import price for shipments of red king crab to Japan was 31% lower than in 2008 amounting to less than 740 Yen per kilo. The average price indications for the period of the first eleven months of the year came down by 20% to ca.585 Yen per kilo. The average import price for live snow crab in November 2009 was lower than in November 2008 by 27% and amounted to ca.245 Yen per kilo. The average indications for January-November 2009 dropped by 24% to 295 Yen per kilo. The shipments of live snow crab in October and November 2009 were very brisk with the average monthly volume approximating 2000 tonnes, though the total result as per the end of November 2009 appeared to be worse than in 2008, namely 1.5% down to ca.22,000 tonnes. The import volume of live red king crab in November 2009 reached 650 tonnes, 27% up on October 2009 and 21% up on November 2008. The total import volume for the first eleven months of the year 2010 grew by more than 7% to ca.5700 tonnes.
Shipments of live hairy crab to Japan were developing more slowly than in 2008. The November import volume fell by 20% on October 2009 and 6% on November 2008 to less than 190 tonnes. The total import through the period from the start of the year amounted to only ca.1600 tonnes, 31% down on 2008. The average import price in November 2009 rose by 22% on October 2009 to more than 915 Yen per kilo, ca.2% down on November 2008. However, the price level for the period under analysis rose by 12% to nearly 700 Yen per kilo.
Shrimp
The Japanese import of frozen shrimp (mostly pink and coonstripe) of the Russian origin from January 2009 through to November 2009 was limited to 6300 tonnes, 10% down on the corresponding result of 2008. However, in November 2009 the shipments grew by 36% on October 2009 to ca.630 tonnes progressing much more actively than in 2008 (a rise of 24%). Nevertheless, by the end of the year the catch gap was hardly overtaken.
The average import price in November 2009 rose by 4% on October 2009 to 1195 Yen per kilo, still 17.5% down on November 2008. The average indications through the period also amounted to 1195 Yen per kilo, only less than 4% down on 2008.
Squid
Just like in 2008, in November 2009 China imported 70 tonnes of frozen Russian squid, and the total import volume from January 2009 was limited to 1000 tonnes, 34% down on the respective result of 2008. The average import price in November 2009 amounted to ca.0.65 USD per kilo versus 0.80 USD per kilo in November 2008. The average indications through the period under analysis amounted to ca.0.75 USD per kilo, 42% up on 2008.
Sea urchins
Shipments of sea urchins to Japan somewhat improved as compared to October 2009 with the import volume rising by 7% to 930 tonnes, still 29% down on November 2008. The total import volume through the period from January 2009 went down already by 20% to ca.8800 tonnes, evidently thanks to greater efficiency of measures against the IUU fishing practices. The average import price in November 2009 amounted to 585 Yen per kilo, 26% up on the result of November 2008. However, the average indications for the period of eleven months were still 2% down on 2008 and amounted to ca. 555 Yen per kilo.