Overview of freshfrozen fish market of Saint Petersburg and some other regions in mid-August 2007

Due to hot weather hitting most of Russia, the demand for fish products has been decreasing typically for the summer season of the year. At the same time, as the fleets have kept on operating on the grounds, there have been some interesting developments on the market of St. Petersburg, Russia's main entry port for seafood, trading sources told RFR.

Below follow more details on particular species with average prices given as ex-coldstore VAT inclusive for quantities of between 1-10 metric tons unless specified otherwise.

Freshfrozen herring

In mid-August 2007 Saint Petersburg traders offered Russian herring from the new summer catch from RUR15.00 to RUR15.50 per kilo. Both the demand and supply were stable. In the coming weeks prices were expected to slightly rise as the harvested fish was of good quality and the processing season was going to start in a couple of weeks.

Mackerel

As per mid-August 2007 headed Russian mackerel was available from RUR70.00 per kilo of the size 300+ and RUR58.00 for the size 200-300. In the end of August the traders are expecting supplies of the first Norwegian mackerel, though the mackerel catches as per mid-August were not yet large and the price for the size 400-600 fluctuated at RUR70.00 per kilo.

Baltic herring, Baltic sprat

As the inventories of good quality fish had been already sold off (the last fish of good quality was harvested in April earlier this year), prices for the product were forecasted to rise to RUR16.50-17.00 per kilo.

Finnish herring packed in pallets was marketed from RUR17.00 per kilo in Saint Petersburg. The same product packed in boxes was offered from RUR20.00 per kilo.

Capelin

In mid-August 2007 prices for capelin settled at RUR30.00-32.00 per kilo depending on the size. The situation on the capelin market was stable and in the coming weeks Saint Petersburg traders were expected landings of large lots (up to 2000 tonnes) of Canadian capelin of large size (25/35, 30/40) with prices forecasted from RUR29.00 per kilo.

Blue whiting

As the demand for blue whiting did not fall in summer and catches of the species were lower on the same period last year, the demand for the species pushed the prices drastically up to RUR18.00-18.50 per kilo in Saint Petersburg.

In the coming weeks traders were not expecting prices to decrease.

Atlantic salmon and trout

As per 14 August 2007 the situation on the market of Atlantic salmon and trout was uncertain and the trout prices kept falling.

Wholesale prices ex-coldstore in Vladivostok, dateline 14 August 2007

Wholesale prices ex-coldstore in Saint Petersburg, dateline 14 August 2007

Wholesale prices ex-coldstore in Moscow, dateline 14 August 2007