Salmon are provided with freedom of movement – Newspaper Kommersant No. 186 (7387) of 07.10.
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The regulator’s statement about a possible restriction of the export of red fish to stabilize its value in the domestic market led to the opposite effect. Manufacturers have increased selling prices by 22-28% almost in a month. The All-Russian Association of Fishermen (VARPE) has already opposed the ban, pointing out that exports account for no more than 10% of the catch. Restrictions on exports and price cuts could lead to fishermen holding back production in anticipation of peak demand, experts warn.
In early September, the head of the Federal Agency for Fishery, Ilya Shestakov, announced plans for the first time to limit the export of red fish to stabilize prices within the country. The argument of this initiative, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, was the low production of this bioresource in 2022. According to VNIRO, as of October 2, 264.4 thousand tons of red fish were caught in the Far East during the salmon season, which is half as much as in 2021. However, immediately after the announcement of these plans, domestic prices began to rise, according to a letter from VARPE dated September 27 to the head of the department for regulating agricultural markets of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maxim Titov. Kommersant has a copy of it. According to the association, over the 20 days of September, wholesale prices for pink salmon rose by 28%, to 320 thousand rubles. per ton, for chum salmon – by 22%, up to 440 thousand rubles. per ton.
VARPE President German Zverev points out that no more than 10% of the total salmon catch is exported. This, in his opinion, is not the volume that could put pressure on domestic prices.
Thus, before the announcement of plans to limit exports, the average annual prices for pink salmon in the domestic market were at the level of 250 thousand rubles. per ton, for chum salmon – 360 thousand rubles. per ton, which is 24% lower than in 2021. Moreover, adds Mr. Zverev, this year the financial efficiency of export supplies has decreased by 44% compared to last year. WARPE, given these factors, does not support an export ban.
The Federal Agency for Fishery told Kommersant that the head of the department had already stated at the International Fishery Forum that proposals to ban exports had been sent to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The ministry said salmon catches are projected to decline this year, while their exports have increased significantly, which creates risks of higher prices, adding that they have requested additional information from the Federal Agency for Fisheries and industry associations.
Maxim Kozlov, President of the Association of Fishing Enterprises of the Sakhalin Region, says that now the salmon season has already been completed, so it is not relevant to introduce a ban. All products have already been sold and are in the hands of traders, so the ban will only lead to a halt in the supply of already sold fish, he adds. The very idea of limiting exports is already negatively affecting the miners, says Sergey Ryabchenko, president of the Association of Fishing Enterprises of the Khabarovsk Territory. According to him, some foreign companies, including those from friendly countries, began to suspend export deals, fearing that supplies could be disrupted.
It is not at all certain that export restrictions will lead to lower prices, Mr. Kozlov believes: “Sellers can suspend all fish supplies, waiting for peak demand and high prices.” The shelf life of frozen fish up to one year allows them to do this, he adds.
German Zverev says that in the premium segment – salmon, trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon – there is indeed a shortage and overheating of prices. But the situation can be stopped by temporarily reducing import duties, which are now at the level of 3%, he believes.
Maxim Kozlov says that an alternative to the export ban could be a floating protective duty on some types of products that are in demand on the domestic market, rather than restrictions on the entire salmon segment.
This year, there is indeed an increase in the price of salmon, which is associated with a drop in production and the refusal to supply fish to the Russian Federation by a number of foreign companies, says aquaculture expert Inna Golfand. But artificial bans will not help solve the problem, she believes: “In order to reduce the cost of production, it is necessary to solve problems with logistical difficulties – a shortage of warehouses and refrigerators, and also to promote fish consumption within the country.”
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