On August 12, the Russian Association of Fish Processing and Trading Companies warned that the price of fresh chilled salmon and trout may rise, at a minimum, by 20% in the nearest future, Business news agency Prime informs.
The alliance said that the Norwegian producers of red salmon raised the price of fresh salmon with weigh of more than 5 kilograms by 50%. The major consumers of fish products from Norway are Russia and China.
The value of 1 kilogram of the Norwegian salmon species advanced to a historical high of $9. At the same time, the price of a salmonid fish which weighs 3 to 5 kilograms remained unchanged for the European companies at the level of $5.5-6.5 per kilo.
In accordance with the association, there are signs of pricing collusion between Norway’s suppliers. Russia is the biggest fish export market for Norway.
As it is emphasized in the association report, the Russian fish importers could not give a reasonable reply to the Norwegian producers actions. Any performance of importers – boycott threat, announcing an equitable value, coordination of purchasing activity – is considered as cartel collusion by the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia, the association said.
The value of fresh salmon and trout in Russia is forecast to be higher than 600 rubles per kilo in the wake of the increase in prices by the Norwegian suppliers. The current retail price is 500 rubles per kilogram. More than that, all products produced with the chilled salmon will rise in the cost.