Overview of main trends in Russian seafood imports in 2006

In general the year 2006 was characterized by growing import value of finfish and other aquatic species (HSC codes 03, 1604, 1605) by 259 million USD (25.15% up) as compared to 2005, according to provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service.

However, in volume terms Russia's import decreased by 104,642 tonnes (10.86% down) as compared to 2005.

Restrictions for import of chilled Atlantic salmon which had been introduced by Russian veterinaries were the main factor behind the decrease of supplies from Norway, though Norway remained Russia's leading importer of finfish and other aquatic species.

Denmark and Great Britain slightly decreased their shipments to Russia by 1.55% and 0.25% as compared to 2005.

Supplies of non-finfish species to Russia were more dynamic than those of finfish with both volume and value considerably rising (by more than 50% in volume and nearly 2.5-fold in value).

Russia's total imports of finfish and other aquatic species

Note: Table has been compiled from provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service

Herring

Comparative analysis of Russia's herring imports has revealed that a dramatic increase of supplies of frozen herring (HSC codes 030350 + 030420750) by Iceland (nearly by 100%) and the Faroe Islands hardly influenced the general trend of falling volumes of imported products. More specifically, the volume fell from 237,609.417 tonnes worth 202.7 million USD in 2005 to 207,998.737 tonnes worth 197 million USD in 2006.

Despite a 20%-decrease of herring supplies to Russia, Norway still left Iceland, the Faroese Islands and Finland well behind in terms of seafood import volume.

In general, the volume of herring imports to Russia went down by 12.46%.

030350 (Cluрea harengus, Cluрea рallasii) +030420750 - herring frozen except for liver and milt + frozen herring fillets

Note: Table has been compiled from provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service

Salmon spp.

Remaining Russia's major supplier of chilled and frozen salmon (HSC 030211 + 030212 + 03031), Norway decreased the volume of its supplies of salmon to Russia by 27.76%. Thanks to increasing shipments from the United Kingdom (+189.02%), Chile (+140.84%) and Faroe Islands (+1020.23%) the total volume of supplies dropped only by 6.19%. The Faroe Islands strengthened their position on the Russian market by increasing their supplies to the country more than 10 times.

The import value of chilled and frozen salmon increased by more than 57 million USD or by 23.34%.

030211 (Salmo trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Oncorhynchus clarki, Oncorhynchus aguabonita, Oncorhynchus gilae, Oncorhynchus aрache and Oncorhynchus chrysogaster) + 030212 + 03031 (Oncorhynchus nerka, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, Oncorhynchus keta, Oncorhynchus tschawytscha, Oncorhynchus kisutch, Oncorhynchus masou and Oncorhynchus rhodurus) +03032 (Salmo salar), salmonids, salmons chilled and frozen

Note: Table has been compiled from provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service

Hake

The USA, Russia's main exporter of hake (HSC 0303781 + 03049047) increased the value of its seafood export to the country by 27% and at the same time decreased the volume by 17%. Canada, Uruguay and Argentina nearly halved the volume of their seafood exports to Russia.

In 2006 Russia imported whiting 37.33% less as compared to the volume in 2005. That was the largest change as compared to salmons and herring.

0303781 (Merluccius sрр.) +03049047, frozen hake including fillets

Note: Table has been compiled from provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service

Shrimps

Denmark remained Russia's leading suppliers of shrimps (HSC 030613). The volume of Danish shrimps imported to the country accounted for more than 50% of Russia's total shrimp imports. However, the value of imports increased nearly 1.5-fold from 77.5 million USD in 2005 to 114.3 million USD in 2006.

Russia's second leading exporter Canada also increased shrimp supplies to the country, but the rise was not large at 7%.

Thailand and Bangladezh boosted their shrimp supplies to Russia by 392.04% and 172.87% correspondingly.

The total volume of shimps imported to Russia in 2006 grew by 0.88%.

030613 - Shrimps

Note: Table has been compiled from provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service

Scallops

Unlike finfish import with volumes tending to decrease, Russia's import of other than finfish aquatic products tended to rise.

In particular, in 2006 Russia boosted its purchases of scallops (HSC 030721 + 030729). The first place in volume terms was taken by China which exported 92.985 tonnes of scallops in 2006 up from 20.503 tonnes in 2005.

The second leading exporter of scallops to Russia was the USA increasing its supplies by about one third from 59.864 tonnes to 87.058 tonnes.

The third place was taken by Denmark which boosted its sales of scallops to Russia from 38.678 tonnes to 67.117 tonnes.

In 2006 Russia's total import of scallops grew both in value by 139.47% and in volume by 69.07%.

030721 (Pecten, Chlamys or Placopecten)+030729 - Scallops

Note: Table has been compiled from provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service

Note: All diagrams have been built by fishnet.ru from provisional figures of Russia's Federal Customs Service