Russia's import of sea scallops retain positive dynamics in 2006

The year 2006 was remarkable for a considerable rise on the Russian market of non-finfish marine products (shellfish, mollusks, etc.) and especially large increase was observed on the Russian market of imported sea scallops.

According to the provisional figures of the nation's Federal Customs Service, positive dynamics was recorded for all types of sea scallop products both in value, in volume and in average price per kilo of the products. The largest rise by 297.41% in value and 81.52% in volume was recorded for the products imported under the HSC 0307299 - frozen scallops except for great scallops (Pecten maximus). The same product category displayed the largest growth of prices by 118.93% per kilo.

Frozen great scallops (Pecten maximus) (HSC 0307291)

In the year 2006 Denmark more than doubled its supplies of frozen great scallops Pecten maximus (HSC 0307291). Due to increased prices for the product by nearly 92% per kilo, the overall value of the Russian import of frozen great scallops from Denmark rose by 380.62%. As a result, the country became the top leader in Russia's import of scallops under the above mentioned foreign trade code: in 2006 Russia purchased in Denmark approximately 52 tonnes of frozen great scallops at a total price of 248,000 USD.

The second place in Russia's import of frozen great scallops was won by China, though supplies from the country were five times behind the Dannish supplies both in value and volume. At the same time, the average price per kilo of the scallop species appeared to be 0.25-0.69 USD per kilo higher than other Russian leading suppliers.

The USA, top supplier of 2005, descended to the third place in value and volume of its supplies of frozen great scallops to Russia in 2006. The growth of average prices per kilo of the US scallops by ca.50% could only slightly compensate a 92%-decrease of supplies and the total value of Russia's great scallop imports from the USA dropped by 88%.

In general, the year 2006 displayed a rising trend for product prices from all the suppliers: the exporters' average charges grew from 2.38 USD per kilo of Belgian scallops in 2005 to 5 USD per of Chinese scallops in 2006. The highest rise of 92% was recorded for Dannish scallops.

Sea scallops live, fresh or chilled, including small scallops of the families of Pecten, Chlamys or Placopecten (HSC 030721)

In the year under analysis the total volume of imported sea scallops live, fresh or chilled, including small scallops of the families of Pecten, Chlamys or Placopecten (HSC 030721) increased by 76% from 10 tonnes to 17.6 tonnes, while the value of supplies doubled from 110,000 USD to 222,000 USD.

The USA were Russia's top supplier of sea scallop products under the above mentioned product code. The share of the country in Russia's total imports of live, fresh and chilled scallops amounted to 73.5% in volume and 75.7% in value. In natural figures the value of the US exports of live, etc. scallops to Russia grew more than two times by 132.74% from 72,000 USD to 168,000 USD in 2006, while the volumes of the US supplies displayed even a higher growth by 148.5% from 5 tonnes to nearly 13 tonnes. In the meantime, the average price per kilo of the products dropped by 6.34% or nearly by 1 USD per kilo.

The second place in Russia's import of live, fresh and chilled scallops was taken by France in 2006 reporting a positive dynamics in all the import indices, namely by ca.56% in value, 7.2% in volume and 45.4% by average price per kilo. However, despite the above increases, in absolute figures France was well behind the leading USA: in 2006 Russia purchased 4.6 tonnes of French scallops at 52,600 USD, while the nation's purchases of US scallops were considerably higher - nearly 13 tonnes at 168,000 USD.

Leaders competing

In general, in 2006 Russia's leading suppliers of scallops (HSC 030721 and 030729) were the USA and China.

The USA took the first place in value and second place in volume, while China won the first place in volume and second place in value.

030721+030729 - scallops total