Pollock prices in Russia approached psychological limit

Retail pollock prices in Russia have approached the psychological limit of RUB100.00 per kilo, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to Russia's Pollock Association.

Already in early March 2009 shops and marketplaces in the nation's Central Federal District, in Moscow in particular, frozen pollock has been offered at RUB95.00 per kilo.

In the cheap market segment Russian pollock has been gradually giving way to Vietnamese pangasius and Chinese tilapia. In 2008 shipments of pollock to the domestic market amounted to 362,000 tonnes, while shipments of tilapia and pangasius exceeded 110,000 tonnes.

According to the Pollock Association, in order to support the national producers Russia's largest fishing companies have asked the Government to organize Exchange Houses in order to purchase for state and municipal needs so as to support the domestic market and maintain the current price level.