Positive production outlook
According to the local salmon producing company Multiexport, Atlantic salmon prices, after peaking at USD 6.00 per pound for fresh fillets in the US in early June has demonstrated a expected reduction, reaching in the third quarter average levels of USD 5.07/lb, price that is still in a high range. The same situation has happened in Brazil, where the price has also registered a slight drop, now reaching over USD 7.30/kg for whole fresh.
On the other hand, the price of trout in Japan has experienced a steady rise during 2010, reaching a historical price of 665 JPY/kg for fish HG in August 2010 with a rising demand and lower inventory levels in comparison with normal levels at this time. This has been traduced into a strong pressure to maintain the current high prices, which should not show a big drop in the next months.
Multiexport expects to harvest about 4,500 tonnes of Atlantic salmon and 3,000 tonnes of Rainbow trout in the last quarter of 2010, totalizing a harvest volume of around 29,000 tons this year. The production indexes for both species remain very good, mainly explained by the low mortality rates and high growth rates in Atlantic salmon and Rainbow trout, registering average harvest weights close to 5.5 kg and 2.7 kg, respectively, in the period.
From the biomass maintained in the sea at this time, the company plans to harvest 32,000 tonnes MP in 2011 with a strong change in the mix of species compared to this year. In 2011, Atlantic salmon will represent over 80% of the production volume while in 2010 this specie will end with a 55% share of the harvested volume.
According to Multiexport, the outlook for the medium term remains positive for both species, especially for Atlantic salmon. The good price levels in major markets combined with improved performance and lower production costs have allowed them to maintain good margins, confirming the positive turnaround in the results began at the end of the year 2009.
