Salmon prices fell in first quarter
Prices started decreasing in the second-half year of 2011 and are expected to remain low this year, although some analysts consider that some recovery could be seen in the coming months.
The USA was the best paying market in the first quarter of this year with an average of US$ 8.3 per Kg of salmonids, representing a 27 per cent decrease compared to the US$ 11.4 paid in Q1 2011. Meanwhile, in Japan the average price was US$ 6.4 which is 14 per cent less than the US$ 7.4 paid in Q1 2011.
According to the Chilean newspaper La Tercera, this low prices will be compensated with larger exported volumes during this year. Therefore, the Chilean salmon industry should obtain similar returns to those achieved in 2011 (around US$ 3 000 million).
The local salmon industry exported 153,597 net tonnes of salmonids in the first quarter of this year, representing a 24 per cent increase compared to the same period of 2011.
