Dynamics of Russia's squid imports by product form and species in 2004-2007. Part 2.
Fillets
The second most important imported product form was squid fillets. Regardless of the general trend, Russia's import of squid fillets was steadily growing. In the year 2004 Russia's import of squid fillets amounted to 733 tonnes, in 2005 it jumped to 2227 tonnes, in 2006 it rose to 2412 tonnes and in 2007 the shipments dramatically increased to 4878 tonnes. Prices of squid fillets did not change much and fluctuated from 1.21 USD per kilo in 2004 to 1.29 USD per kilo in 2007.
Main suppliers of squid fillets to Russia were Peru, China and Chile. The shares of remaining countries (Belgium, Japan, Argentina, Thailand and Italy) were insignificant.
Russian traders purchased fillets of such species as Dosidicus gigas, Sepioteuthis, Ommastrephidae, Illex and Todarodes pacificus. Products were imported in frozen cleaned form in cartons, bags and poly packs.
Peru was the largest country producing squid fillets for Russia with a share of 57%. The volume of Russian import of squid fillets from the country grew by 87% from 1483 tonnes in 2006 to 2777 tonnes in 2007.
Peruvian traders shipped frozen fillets of giant squid Dosidicus gigas, cleaned in 30-kilo poly packs and 20-kilo cartons for sale on the domestic market. The average import prices for Peruvian fillets of giant squid in 2007 amounted to 1.27 USD per kilo. Shipments of fillets were carried out directly from Peru.
The second largest producer of squid fillets for Russia was China with a share of 23%. The total volume of Russia's imports of squid fillets from the country jumped 2.25-fold from 491 tonnes in 2006 to 1105 tonnes in 2007.
From China the Russian traders imported mostly squid fillets (Ommastrephidae and Illex) IQF for sale on the domestic market in 1-kilo poly packs. Average import prices of the products amounted to 1.66 USD per kilo. All the supplies were carried out directly from the producing country.
The third largest supplier of squid fillets was Chile with a share of 17%. The volume of import from the country grew 2.47-fold from 339 tonnes in 2006 to 837 tonnes in 2007.
From Chile the Russian importers purchased frozen fillets of giant squid Dosidicus gigas for sale on the domestic market in 10-kilo bags. All shipments were carried out directly from Chile. The average import prices per kilo of fillets amounted to 1.28 USD per kilo.
Besides, squid fillets were imported from Belgium, Thailand, Japan, Peru, Denmark and Italy. Mostly the imported products were in poly packs from 500 grams to 2 kilos.
Along with the above, the Russian traders also purchased squid fillets from Japan. More specifically, the importers purchased fillets of squid Ommastrephidae in poly packs of 700 grams in the film-covered foam plastic and squid Nototodarus shipped via Finland. Besides, the Russian importers also purchased cuttlefish fillets via the USA, though there were small single shipments.
Seafood cocktail
Another important article of Russia's squid import was seafood cocktail. The value-added products were shipped in retail packs under the labels of Nordic Delight, Sirena, Marisol and Bukhta Izobilia.
Apart from squid which was the main component (30-60%) of the product, seafood cocktails contained such species as shrimp, octopus, mussels and other mollusks in various proportions. As the main component of seafood cocktails producers used Loligo squid and other squid species at a smaller extent.
Just like the case with fillets, Russia's imports of seafood cocktails showed stable growth for the whole period from 2004 to 2007. The volume of imports amounting to 300 tonnes in 2004 jumped to 602 tonnes (+100%) in 2005. In the year 2006 the import volume grew to 1722 tonnes (+186%) and by the year 2007 the import volume reached 3223 tonnes, 87% up on 2006. The trend was caused by actively rising demand from the HoReCa and retail sectors as well as consumers' growing interest in exotic dishes.
More than two thirds of Russia's imports were contributed by China and Thailand, while the remaining share was contributed by Denmark, Vietnam, Germany, India and Spain.
The largest producer of seafood cocktails for Russia was China with a share of 37%. The volume of Russia's import from the country jumped 7.3-fold from 164 tonnes in 2006 to 1199 tonnes in 2007. The products were shipped directly from China in 500-gram, 1-kilo and 2.5-kilo poly packs. The product's average import prices amounted to 1.62 USD per kilo.
The second largest producing country for seafood cocktails was Thailand with a share of 33%. The import volume from the country grew by 4% from 1013 tonnes in 2006 to 1053 tonnes in 2007. Besides, just like the case with China, products from Thailand were delivered to Russia in packed form in poly packs from 500 grams to 5 kilos for sale on the market. Thai cocktails contained mostly loligo squid. The average prices per kilo of the products amounted to 1.67 USD per kilo.
The third place in Russia's import of seafood cocktails was taken by Denmark, which products were imported into Russia both directly and via the Baltic States (Lithuania and Estonia namely). The share of the country in the total import amounted to 10%. The volume of Russia's import of seafood cocktails from Denmark jumped 4-fold from 80 tonnes in 2006 to 327 tonnes in 2007. The cocktails were also based on Loligo squid. The seafood cocktails were shipped in 250-gram and 500-gram packs. The average import prices per kilo of Dannish cocktail amounted to 1.92 USD per kilo.
Other large producers of seafood cocktails for Russia were Vietnam, Germany, India and Spain. Russia's import of Vietnamese cocktails grew 2.7-fold from 90 tonnes in 2006 to 249 tonnes in 2007, while purchases from Germany jumped 8.4-fold from 28 tonnes to 235 tonnes, India - 33-fold from 3 tonnes to 99 tonnes and from Spain - 1.7-fold from 23 tonnes to 29 tonnes.
Squid rings
Apart from seafood cocktails, the Russian traders also purchased squid rings. Just like seafood cocktails, shipments of squid rings kept gathering momentum in 2004-2007. The import volume in the period under analysis was continuously growing against the general trend. In 2004 the volume of Russia's import of squid rings amounted to 61 tonnes only, in 2005 the volume grew to 71 tonnes. By the year 2006 the import volume jumped more than two times and amounted to 153 tonnes and in 2007 the import volume reached 528 tonnes, 3.5 times up on 2006. The average import prices grew by 68% from 1.23 to 2.07 USD per kilo.
The largest producers of squid rings for Russia were Spain and Germany, however in 2007 China won the first place as it boosted its shipments for Russia 19-fold from 19 tonnes in 2006 to 363 tonnes in 2007. Chinese squid rings were imported mostly in blanched and packed form in shatter packs, in particular under the trademark of Bukhta Izobilia from 500 grams to 2.5 kilos. From China rings of squid Ommastrephidae and Todarodes pacificus were shipped directly to Russia. The average prices of Chinese products in 2007 amounted to 1.94 USD per kilo.
In 2007 Spain, the largest producing country in 2004-2006, remained far behind China with the share of а 20% only, though import from the country grew 2.25 times from 48 to 108 tonnes.
In the year 2007 shipments of frozen rings of squid Loligo and Illex from Spain were carried out directly and via Lithuania. The products were shipped in 500-gram poly packs under the trademark of Marisol. Besides, some of the products were imported in cartons for further processing. The average prices of squid rings originating from Spain amounted to 2.59 USD per kilo.
The third largest producer of squid rings, Germany, somewhat decreased the volumes of its shipments from 46 tonnes in 2006 to 42 tonnes in 2007. Rings of squid Todarodes pacificus from Germany were supplied in blanched form in 400-gram and 750-gram poly packs. The shipments were carried out via Lithuania. The average prices of squid rings from Germany amounted to 2 USD per kilo.
Other producers with small volumes were Thailand and Belgium. From Thailand the Russian importers purchased Loligo squid rings in 500-gram retail packs, while from Belgium they brought rings of Sepioteuthis squid in 1-kilo bags.
(to be continued)