But still very high seasonal activity in the salmon market.
“The market is not willing to buy at the prices we have paid to the fish farmers,” says a trader to SalmonBusiness. “A sharp setback. Down an average of five kroner. I can say that right away.”
“It seems that we go right back to the start, almost,” says a buyer at a processing company. “It’s probably down five kroner.”[factbox]
“A lot of fish will be slaughtered in the coming weeks. A weak market, even with the problems in Chile. I hear there is a lot of unsold fish in Oslo.”
“There is probably some that will not buy too much today, as there is a trade fair in China next week,” he adds.
Prices fall back from the level of last Friday. The question is how much.
“It’s a notch down. That’s it,” says a salesman at a large aquaculture company. “But volume is good. It will rise more in a couple of weeks,” he predicts.
“Industry sizes are easy to get out. In overseas markets we can get significantly higher prices. Both Chile and Canada are out,” he points out.
SalmonBusiness’ six industry sources refer to the following price level (to fish farmers) for salmon to be delivered next week:
- 2-3 kg NOK 37-38 (€3.6-3.7)
- 3-4 kg NOK 44-47 (€4.3-4.6)
- 4-5 kg NOK 46-49 (€4.5-4.8)
- 5-6 kg NOK 46-50 (€4.5-4.9)
- 6+ kg NOK 47-54 (€4.6-5.3 – depending on whether it is for EU or overseas markets)
“There is a spread of 2-3 kroner between good and bad deals. But it is thin, there are not many sales,” says a salesman at a fish farming company.
“In the US we can sell at NOK 51-52.50 at 5-6 kg. We have offered NOK 60 on China. No fish to the United States from Chile in the last three days is having an impact,” he emphasizes.
