Value of frozen salmon still slightly higher

The Undersecretary of Fisheries released this past year’s cumulative export report (as of November 2007), which illustrates that the total volume of frozen product from the aquaculture sector reached 288 thousand tons, and a total income of US$ 1.4 billion. Compared to November of 2006 these figures reflect a 5.1% increase in volume and a 2.2% increase in sales. Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, and coho salmon are the leading products in this product category, followed by frozen mussels and scallops. And in relatively much smaller volumes are frozen king salmon, abalone, oysters and turbot. The primary export destinations for frozen aquaculture-based products are Japan (37.7%), the United States (17.5%), and Germany (9.5%). The average sale price in November for frozen salmon products slipped to US$ 4.6/kg, whereas earlier in the year (April 2007) the average price was US$ 6 and earnings were up 17%.