Seafood sales in Moscow displaying big rise

The total turnover in the food sector of Russia's capital city of Moscow through the first eight months of the current year 2007 has grown by 4.7% to 6.2 million metric tons as compared to the same period of 2006, according to deputy head of the city's Food Resources Department quoted by manager of the investment-analytical group of Norge-Fish Timur Mitupov.

The largest growth of 47% out of the whole volume of food shipments to Moscow has been observed for fish products with fish sales rising by 36% on the same period last year.

Thus, through the period from January to August current total fish consumption in Moscow is estimated to reach 150,000 metric tons, while last year the city's annual fish consumption amounted to 168,000 tonnes and the increase of consumption volumes in January-August 2007 on the whole year 2005 amounted to 53%.

According to Timur Mitupov, taking into account seasonal fluctuations, average monthly growth of sales volumes and the peaking demand in the fourth quarter of the year, in 2007 the total fish consumption in Moscow can reach 300,000 metric tons and the demand for fish products as compared to 2006 will grow by 80%.