Mixed trends in Norwegian mackerel export to Russia and Ukraine
Russian import of Norwegian frozen mackerel in 2007 totaled 35.0 thousand tonnes as compared with 20.1 thousand tonnes in 2006. Ukrainian import of Norwegian frozen mackerel was 39.2 thousand tonnes in comparison with 10.6 thousand tonnes in 2006, according to Globefish report dated August 2008.
Norwegian mackerel export to Russia and Ukraine (in 1 000 tonnes) | ||||
. | 2006 | 2007 | January-March 2007 | January-March 2008 |
Russia | 20.1 | 35 | 2.1 | 1 |
Ukraine | 10.6 | 39.2 | 5 | 1.9 |
Note: the table has been compiled from Globefish figures with reference to Norwegian Seafood Export Council | ||||
However, in the first 3 months of 2008 Norwegian export of frozen mackerel to the Russian Federation and Ukraine got off to a slow start.
More specifically, Russia imported just 1 000 tonnes of Norwegian mackerel to the end of March, compared with 2 100 tonnes in 2007 (this was a direct result of ongoing problems with the Russian Food Inspectorate). Ukraine imported 1 900 tonnes as opposed to 5 000 tonnes for the first quarter of 2007. But it is worth noting that these declines followed after increasing of imports both into Russia and Ukraine for the full year 2007.
Russia has now lifted the restrictions on imports from Norway, which were put into place in late 2007 following inspections of Norwegian processing units by the Russian veterinary inspectorate (Rosselkhoznadzor). This is good news for herring and mackerel fisheries.