Overview of seafood exports from the Russian Far East in January-October 2009
In October 2009 shipments of main seafood commodities from the Russian Far East to neighboring foreign markets have remained rich in discrepancies, though for particular products and directions which were fairly important for the industry the situation showed positive development, according to the overview prepared by analysts of http://www.fishnet-russia.com/ (https://www.fishnet.ru/) based on Japanese and Russian sources.
That was especially true for import of frozen salmon to China, frozen Atka mackerel to Japan, frozen pollock roe to South Korea and frozen salmon roe to Japan, as well as frozen crab to the USA. Evident changes for the better were also observed in the Japanese import of cod and ocean perch of the Russian origin, though in terms of prices the situation remained difficult.
Salmon
In October 2009 the Chinese import of frozen salmon (less sockeye) of the Russian origin got slower due to the reasons of purely seasonal character as the Russian producers preferred shipping their products for export without delays. However, against the background of fairly weak results of the season 2008 import of Russian pink salmon (partly also chum salmon) of the season 2009 to China looked very impressive. In October 2009 the Chinese customs cleared nearly 17,800 tonnes of Russian products, 48% down on September 2009, but nearly 9.5 times up on October 2008 (last year in October the seasonal import paused due to the distrust of market prospects from the Chinese users in a situation of quickly developing world financial crisis). The total volume of import of products from the season 2009 amounted to ca.60,300 tonnes (from July 2009), 320% up on the last year result. As compared with the total volume of the Chinese import of Russian products from the season 2008, only in the first four months of new seasonal shipments their volume has already exceeded the total volume of import from the last year season by more than 36,000 tonnes or 150%.
The average import price in October 2009 decreased from 1.74 USD per kilo (CIF) in September 2009 to 1.62 USD per kilo, 18% down on the result of October 2008. Through the period from July 2009 when the seasonal shipments took off the average prices leveled at 1.70 USD per kilo, approximately 0.20 USD per kilo down on last year.
The Japanese import of frozen chum salmon and pink salmon from Russia in October 2009 grew by 4% on September 2009, but still failed to reach the level of 500 tonnes just like last year. Import of frozen coho salmon was limited to less than 40 tonnes, while in October 2008 the import volume was four times larger. As a result, through the period from January to October 2009 import of Russian coho salmon amounted to only ca.45 tonnes, 92% down on the corresponding result of last year. Import of chum salmon and pink salmon fell nearly two times to 1520 tonnes. The average import price of coho salmon amounted to 330 Yen per kilo (CIF) versus less than 300 Yen per kilo in October 2008. The average price of chum and pink salmon import in October 2009 appeared to be a little below 240 Yen per kilo, approximately 70 Yen per kilo (or 22%) down on September 2009 and 25 Yen per kilo (or 10%) down on October 2008.
The Japanese import of frozen Russian sockeye in October 2009 was progressing less actively than last year, therefore the activity of import in September 2009 told on the general situation with seasonal shipments not very noticeably. The October import was limited to 3000 tonnes, 52% down on the import volume in September 2009 and 20% down on October 2008. The total volume of seasonal import (according to some information, shipments of products from the season 2009 started not from June, but from July) amounted to only ca.15,100 tonnes, approximately 3500 tonnes or 19% down on the import volume of products from the season 2008 as per late October 2008 (last year shipments took off in June). The average import price in October 2009 amounted to 514 Yen per kilo, 5% down on September 2009, but practically in keeping with the last year result of 518 Yen per kilo, and in general through the period of product shipments from the season 2009 it leveled at 525 Yen per kilo, only 3% down on last year, though shipments of more expensive products from driftnet fisheries were practically absent this year.
Salmon roe
In October 2009 the Japanese import of frozen salmon roe of the Russian origin grew dramatically brisker and the import volume through the month amounted to ca.1400 tonnes, 400 tonnes up on the first nine months of the year. As compared to September 2009 the import volume in October 2009 increased nearly by 470% and the average import price rose by 3% to 1030 Yen per kilo. As a result, by the end of October 2009 the import volume of the Russian raw material used mostly for production of sack and sieved caviar in soybean sauce amounted to already nearly 2400 tonnes, more than 2000 tonnes (565%) up on the result of January-October 2008. The main reasons behind such a strong import rise were recovery of the demand for the Russian raw from the Japanese customers, strong Yen to USD exchange rate, rich production volumes in Russia (with the total salmon harvest reaching 520,000-530,000 tonnes and weakening of the demand from the markets of Russia and former USSR.
Pollock roe
The Japanese import of the Russian raw material in October 2009 grew somewhat brisker and its volume increased by 38% as compared to last year to only 190 tonnes, 49% down on the import volume in October 2008. In general through the period from January 2009 the import volume amounted to ca.15,600 tonnes, 20% down on last year. Assuming that shipments of products from the Okhotsk season 2009 started from April 2009, the total seasonal import through the period from April to October 2009 was limited only to 14,200 tonnes, 24% down on the last year result. The average import price in October 2009 returned to the level of 700 Yen per kilo and amounted to 750 Yen per kilo, still 40% down on October 2008. The average indications for the whole period amounted to 850 Yen per kilo, ca.400 Yen per kilo or more than 30% down on last year.
Import of the Russian raw pollock roe to South Korea grew slightly brisker in October 2009 as compared to September 2009 (probably, due to the emerging need in additional purchases of the raw material against the background of expected rise of seasonal demand). The import volume grew by 14% to 290 tonnes as compared to September 2009 and by 124% up on October 2008. In general, through the period from the start of the year the import volume amounted to ca.5340 tonnes, nearly 90% up on last year. The average import price in October 2009 amounted to 6.72 USD per kilo (CIF), 11% down on September 2009 and 36% down on October 2008. Through the period from April 2009 the average indications leveled at 7.00 USD per kilo, approximately 2.00 USD per kilo or more than 20% down on last year.
The volume of the Chinese import in October 2009 was limited only to 20 tonnes versus more than 150 tonnes in September 2009 and 630 tonnes in October 2008. Through the period from January to October 2009 importers purchased 3.23 tonnes of the Russian raw material, 12% down on last year, however the import volume amounted to ca.3080 tonnes (approximately on a par with last year) through the period from April 2009 when products from the season 2009 were first shipped to the markets. The average import price in October 2009 dramatically decreased to less than 3.85 USD per kilo, while in October 2008 it was higher than 13.40 USD per kilo, and through the period the average price amounted to ca.8.50 USD per kilo, nearly 25% down on last year.
The total import volume of frozen pollock roe of the Russian origin to Japan, South Korea and China as per late October 2009 amounted to ca.24,150 tonnes, 7% down on October 2008, and through the period from April 2009 the customs of those two nations cleared ca.22,050 tonnes of products from the season of 2009, ca.7.5% down on last year. The market specialists however still did not believe that the Russian production in the season 2009 really decreased as compared to the season 2008 and expected that the process of clearance in the remaining four-five months before the beginning of new seasonal shipments would be much quicker than in the last season.
Herring roe
Import of frozen Russian herring roe to Japan in October 2009 was not registered again, and import of salted products grew brisker and in October 2009 the import volume increased by 42% on September 2009 to 160 tonnes. Thanks to that the total import volume from the beginning of the year as per late October 2009 amounted to ca.420 tonnes, 2% up on last year. The average import price in October 2009 decreased from 1200 Yen per kilo to 1100 Yen per kilo, but it still was nearly 20% up on the last year indications. And in general through the period since the beginning of the year the average import price amounted to ca.1055 Yen per kilo, 100 Yen per kilo or 10% up on last year.
Herring
Import to Japan in October 2009 grew somewhat brisker and the total import volume of frozen herring originating from Russia amounted to ca.95 tonnes, twice up on last year, however the total import volume from January 2009 amounted to only ca.4500 tonnes, 41% down on the corresponding result of 2008. The average import price in October 2009 amounted to 85 Yen per kilo versus 155 Yen per kilo in October 2008, and the average import price through the period from the beginning of the year amounted to 100 Yen per kilo, 25% down on last year.
Import of frozen fillets of Russian herring in October 2009 grew slower with the shipments decreasing by 7% on September 2009 to 450 tonnes, 18% down on last year. However, the average import price went down only by 2% to 327 Yen per kilo, the total volume of shipments from January 2009 amounted to ca.4650 tonnes, 24% down on last year. The average import price rose by 3% to 392 Yen per kilo.
Pollock and cod species
The volume of the Chinese import of frozen raw material (due to peculiarities of the Chinese customs statistics it is practically impossible to define the exact structure of shipments, but the Russian shipments are normally dominated by headed and gutted pollock) in October 2009 was again limited to less than 7000 tonnes and amounted to only 6400 tonnes, 47% down on comparably low import volume in October 2008. Through the period from January 2009 to late October 2009 it reached only 63,500 tonnes, 72% down on last year. The average import price in October 2009 amounted to 2.17 USD per kilo, 33% down on last year, but through the period from January 2009 it amounted to 2.14 USD per kilo, 11.5% up on last year.
The Japanese import of frozen Russian pollock in October 2009 declined by 91% on September 2009 failing to reach even 20 tonnes (last year in October 2009 traders imported only 3 tonnes) and through the period from January 2009 the import volume totaled 480 tonnes, 26% down on last year. The average import price in October 2009 amounted to only 51 Yen per kilo versus 171 Yen per kilo in September 2009 and the average indications through the period of 10 months leveled at 165 Yen per kilo.
Import of frozen Russian cod to Japan in October 2009 grew much brisker with the total shipments jumping to 750 tonnes, 763% up on September 2009. As compared to last year, the import volume in October 2009 rose by 60%, but as in the previous months the import purchases were not active, the total import volume through the period from January 2009 was limited to only 1460 tonnes, 13% down on the last year result. The average import price in October 2009 remained at 260 Yen per kilo, 46% down on nearly 500 Yen per kilo in October 2008. The average indications through the period also amounted to 260 Yen per kilo, 48% down on the corresponding result of last year.
Bottomfish
In October 2009 the Chinese import of frozen halibut (less arrowtooth flounder) from Russia was limited to less than 190 tonnes (shipments of white halibut were not registered at all), 26% down on October 2008. However, the total import volume from January to October 2009 declined only by 15% to 2000 tonnes, while import of white halibut sank by ca.70% to 280 tonnes versus a 17% increase of black halibut import (to 1730 tonnes). Even despite such a strong decline of shipments the average import price for white halibut dropped approximately by 0.90 USD per kilo to only 1.22 USD per kilo. As for black halibut, the average import price for the period of the first 10 months of the year 2009 amounted to only 1.73 USD per kilo, more than 1.20 USD per kilo or 42% down on last year. In October 2009 it was much lower at only 0.85 USD per kilo versus 1.65 USD per kilo in October 2008.
In October 2009 China imported ca.2750 tonnes of frozen flounder of the Russian origin, only 6% down on October 2008. However, in general through the period under analysis the Chinese import of Russian products declined much more noticeably, namely by 36%, to ca.9870 tonnes. The average import price in October 2009 was approximately on a par with last year and amounted to 1.10 USD per kilo, but the average indications for the first ten months of the year amounted to ca.1.15 USD per kilo, 4% down on the respective result of last year.
The volume of the Japanese import of frozen halibut of the Russian origin (less arrowtooth flounder) in October 2009 grew by 27% on September 2009 to ca.600 tonnes, still 26% down on October 2008. The total import volume from the beginning of the year was limited to less than 2900 tonnes, 42% down on last year. The average import price in October 2009 dropped by 8% on September 2009 and amounted to 500 Yen per kilo, 23% down on October 2008. The average import price for the first ten months of the year declined by 13% to 564 Yen per kilo.
The Japanese import of frozen Russian flounder in October 2009 amounted to only 11 tonnes versus nearly 200 tonnes in October 2008 and nearly five times down on September 2008. The total import volume from January to October 2009 was limited to only 1000 tonnes, 1500 tonnes or 60% down on the respective result of last year. The average import price in October 2009 leveled at 200 Yen per kilo, but through the period under analysis it amounted to 230 Yen per kilo, 21% down on last year. Import of live and fresh flounder from the beginning of the year through to October 2009 was limited to less than 45 tonnes (in September and October 2009 shipments were absent at all), nearly twice down on last year, and the average import price decreased by more than 100 Yen per kilo to only 285 Yen per kilo.
Against the above background the Japanese import of both ocean perch and Atka mackerel of the Russian origin was developing exclusively actively. In October 2009 traders imported ca.1450 tonnes of ocean perch, 123% up on September 2009 and 45% up on October 2008, and more than 3450 tonnes of Atka mackerel, 76% up on September 2009 and 279% up on October 2008. However, while for the period of the first ten months of the year the Atka mackerel import (unlike ocean perch, it consisted only of products from the Russian Far East) grew nearly by 5% to 17,550 tonnes, import of ocean perch still did not reach the last year result and amounted to 3760 tonnes as per late October, 13% down on last year.
The average import price of ocean perch in October 2009 was only 5% down on September 2009 and amounted to 328 Yen per kilo, 21% down on October 2008. The average indications through the period of ten months declined by 13% to 342 Yen per kilo. As for Atka mackerel, the average price in October 2009 practically did not descend on September 2009 and amounted to 215 Yen per kilo (in October 2008 it was only 4% higher even despite a weaker Yen to USD exchange rate). The average indications for January-October 2009 even rose to 218 Yen per kilo with the rise on last year amounting to 14%.
Crabs
China imported ca.370 tonnes of frozen crab (all species) of the Russian origin in October 2009, 20% down on September 2009 and 27% down on 500 tonnes in October 2008. In general for the period from January 2009 to October 2009 the Chinese import of Russian products decreased by 16% to 4720 tonnes (as compared to 2007 it went down nearly by 60%). The average import price in October 2009 rose only by 0.10 USD per kilo on September 2009 to 2.75 USD per kilo, still 1.05 USD per kilo down on October 2008. However, the average indications through the period under analysis (January-October 2009) did not decrease, but even rose to 3.14 USD per kilo, 0.30 USD per kilo or 11% up on both 2008 and 2007.
The Japanese import of frozen crab of the Russian origin in October 2009 was progressing approximately at the same rate as in September 2009, but while import of king crab jumped by 237% to ca.770 tonnes, import of snow crab declined by 46% to 690 tonnes. In October 2008 the situation was quite different as the import volume of king crab was 52% larger and import of frozen snow crab was 20% smaller. In general in the first ten months of the year 2009 shipments of Russian products tended to decline with import of king crab (mostly red and partly blue) dropping by 36% to only 4400 tonnes, import of snow crabs came down by 7% to 10,200 tonnes, import of hairy crab sank by 62% to only ca.20 tonnes. Import of other crab products of the Russian origin went down by 35% to 11 tonnes.
The average import price of frozen king crab in October 2009 declined to 1400 Yen per kilo, ca.200 Yen per kilo down on September 2009 and nearly 450 Yen per kilo down on October 2008. The average indications through the period under analysis amounted to 1395 Yen per kilo, 23% down on last year. As for shipments of frozen snow crab, the average price in October 2009 remained on a par with September 2009, namely at 840 Yen per kilo, still 30% down on October 2008. The average price of frozen snow crab for the period of ten months of 2009 also declined by 23% to 870 Yen per kilo. As for shipments of frozen hairy crab, the import price decreased by 17% to ca.815 Yen per kilo. Other Russian crab products depreciated by 60% to 700 Yen per kilo.
In October 2009 Japan officially imported only ca.520 tonnes of live and fresh king crab of the Russian origin, 18% down on September 2009 and 26% down on October 2008. However, through the period from January 2009 the total import grew by 6% to ca.5020 tonnes. The average import price in October 2009 rose by 130 Yen per kilo or 21% to 743 Yen per kilo on September 2009, but as compared to last year it appeared to be 11% down. The result for the whole period under analysis showed an 18% decline to 565 Yen per kilo.
Import of live and fresh snow crab in October 2009 rose by 13.5% on September 2009 to nearly 2000 tonnes, still 30% down on October 2008. Due to the above decline the total import from the beginning of the year decreased by 4% on last year to ca.20,100 tonnes. The average import price in October 2009 declined by 5% on September 2009 to 246 Yen per kilo, 26% down on October 2008. The average indications through the period under analysis dropped by 90 Yen per kilo or 23% to 300 Yen per kilo.
Import of live and fresh hairy crab in October 2009 increased by 17% on September 2009 to 230 tonnes, but still 10% down on October 2008. In general through the period under analysis it decreased by one third to only ca.1400 tonnes. The average import price in October 2009 rose by more than 100 Yen per kilo on September 2009 to 753 Yen per kilo, 14% up on October 2008. The import price through the first ten months of the year rose by 13% to 660 Yen per kilo.
Import of frozen Russian crab meat to Japan through the period from January to October 2009 was limited to only 57 tonnes (for comparison, China exported more than 7000 tonnes, South Korea exported more than 2500 tonnes of crab meat), but still 24% up on October 2008. The average import price rose by 35% to 2600 Yen per kilo (for shipments from China it levelled at 1800 Yen per kilo, and the import price for shipments from South Korea amounted to less than 1000 Yen per kilo).
In October 2009 the USA imported 600 tonnes of frozen king crab and ca.350 tonnes of frozen snow crab of the Russian origin. Shipments were progressing generally brisker than last year therefore import of both king crab and snow crab grew by 49%. However, while for the period from January to October 2009 import of king crab from Russia rose by 12% to 11,920 tonnes, import of snow crab decreased merely by 4% to 3840 tonnes. Expectations of import decrease did not come true which could be taken both as a sign of stable position of the Russian producers and also of steady demand on the US market.
The average import price (FAS or ex-transport) of king crab in October 2009 was limited to only 12.70 USD per kilo (in September 2009 with the import volume of ca.900 tonnes it was below 12.60 USD per kilo), 4.35 USD per kilo or 21% down on October 2008. The average indications for the period from the year start decreased by 7% to ca.15.50 USD per kilo. As for shipments of frozen snow crab the average import price in October 2009 amounted to only 5.57 USD per kilo, 18% down on October 2008. The average indications through the period dropped by 6% to 5.96 USD per kilo.
Shrimp
The Japanese import of the Russian shrimp in October 2009 rose nearly three times on September 2009 to 460 tonnes, still 5.5% down on October 2008. Through the period from the beginning of the year the import volume went down already by 12% to ca.5700 tonnes, and the average import price from January 2009 declined by 2.5% to 1195 Yen per kilo. In October 2009 it was below 1150 Yen per kilo, 21% down on September 2009 and 29% down on October 2008.
Squid
The Chinese import of frozen squid of the Russian origin in October 2009 was limited to only 5 tonnes, nearly 20 times down on October 2008. The total import volume from January to October 2009 amounted to 970 tonnes, 35% down on the corresponding result of last year. The average import price through the period rose by 47% to only 0.75 USD per kilo (the import price of frozen squid from all the sources was ca.0.30 USD per kilo higher).
Sea urchins
In October 2009 the Japanese import of live and fresh sea urchins grew dramatically brisker and its volume jumped by 270% on September 2009, still being 17% down on October 2008. In general for the first ten months of the year the import volume decreased by 11.5% to 7860 tonnes. Despite such a strong increase of shipments the average import price dropped only by 40 Yen per kilo or 6% on September 2009 to 602 Yen per kilo, 15% up on October 2008. The average indications through the period under analysis amounted to 550 Yen per kilo, 5% or 30 Yen per kilo down on last year.