Salmon exports already exceed US$ 1 billion
According to the statistical analysis report published by SalmonChile each month, the totals from the month of May tipped the scale to billion-dollar mark for this year. The total returns in May were US$ 168 million, only slightly higher than the same period in 2006, but this year with 4% less volume sold (27,150 net tons). The US unsurprisingly passed Japan as the principal market, buying up 36% of the years’ subtotal. What is more surprising is how much money that percentage means, US$ 387 million. This is 24% higher than last year’s sales, and for less fish. The fresh Atlantic fillets are the top dollar commodity and 67% of the total product line. 26% is shipped as frozen product. Japan is right behind the US, having bought 35% of the total and generating US$ 328 in sales. This is also a huge 22% higher than sales earned during the same period last year. The favourite products for Japan are the frozen coho (43%) and trout (45%). In third place are the countries grouped into the “other” category: Russia, Thailand, China and South Korea. In total these countries generated US$ 120 million; 3.7% from Russia, 1.7% from Thailand, 1.3% from China, and 1.3% from South Korea. In fourth place is Europe, generating US$ 109 million. The principal countries are Germany (5.1%), France (2.4%) and Belgium (1.1%).
