But industrial-size fish are holding steady in price.
“There’s pressure on the big fish. Way too much 5 kg plus, especially 6 kg plus, and that’s the worst. So much that not all of it can go by air. Prices are being pushed down. I’m hearing Spain is flooded with 6 kg plus and the price there is low,” a buyer told SalmonBusiness.
“But the price for 3–6 kg fish is quite stable,” he added, before listing the following prices to farmers for deliveries next week:
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3–4 kg: NOK 72–73 ($7.06–$7.15 / €6.12–€6.21)
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4–6 kg: NOK 74 ($7.25 / €6.29)
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6 kg plus: NOK 70 ($6.86 / €5.95)
Good growth at sea
“6 kg plus is difficult. We’re losing money on that size. It’s growing fast, you know. We’re packing fish that average six and seven kilos.”
That means a slight weakening compared with the prices achieved last Friday.
“Marginally down, I think. Down about one krone on average. But there’s plenty of fish out there,” he said. “Demand isn’t great. It’s not unusual for it to be like this at this time of year. We saw the same thing last year. Prices only started rising in week 49. I think that will happen again this year,” he predicted.
Others are hoping for higher prices.
“We haven’t sold anything yet, but we expect higher. We’re hearing there’ll be less fish next week. I think this is the bottom for now. But there’s been some carry-over fish that’s kept a lid on sentiment. There’s a holiday day in Europe, apparently, which could affect things—but I think we’re close to a proper rebound in price,” said one farmer.
China cutting back
Several traders refer to prices between NOK 73–74 ($7.15–$7.25 / €6.21–€6.29) for the most traded size, fish between three and six kilos.
“It’s tough for large fish, given the sea-lice situation that’s keeping China away. They destroy the fish if there are lice on it. You have to guarantee lice-free fish to ship there,” one trader pointed out.
“Average weights are still high,” he added.
“Maybe it’s creeping down a bit. There’s plenty of big fish—that’s really where the problem lies,” an exporter told SalmonBusiness.
