Norwegian Salmon Prices Suddenly Fall! Large-Size Fish Drop Below Medium Size
Due to changes in WeChat's rules, please add the Frozen Food Guide official account as a starred account, or click "Like" or "Wow" at the bottom of the article, to see the exciting content pushed by Frozen Food Guide every day
\[
Norwegian Salmon Prices Suddenly Fall! Large-Size Fish Drop Below Medium Size
After two consecutive weeks of increases led the industry to believe prices were about to stabilize, the Norwegian salmon market unexpectedly took a sharp turn downward. The latest data show that spot prices at origin have generally fallen, with the price drop for large-size fish being the most significant, and market sentiment has quickly turned cautious.
Large-size fish slow to sell, prices fall by 6–7 Norwegian kroner/kg
According to several exporters, prices for large-size salmon above 6 kg fell by 6–7 Norwegian kroner/kg this week (about RMB 3.8–4.4/kg), while the decline for the 3–6 kg size was about half that.
"The market can't absorb so many large fish," one Norwegian exporter said bluntly. "Right now salmon in the sea are growing too fast, supply has surged, and the price changes are very直观."
Another exporter added that large-size fish from Chile are entering the US market in large volumes, creating direct competition with Norwegian fish and forcing Norwegian large fish originally destined for the US to seek new export channels.
Price inversion: large fish cheaper than medium size
The market has even seen a rare price inversion. "In some regions, fish above 6 kg now cost less per kilogram than the 3–6 kg size," a third exporter said. "This situation is very rare."
According to market surveys, the mainstream prices in northern and western Norway are currently as follows:
- 3–4 kg: 72–73 Norwegian kroner/kg
- 4–5 kg: 72–74 Norwegian kroner/kg
- 5–6 kg: 72–74 Norwegian kroner/kg
- Above 6 kg: 70–74 Norwegian kroner/kg
One trader added that transactions are currently limited: "Although quotes are between 77–79 Norwegian kroner, this is not achievable in all markets, and buyer acceptance still needs to be observed."
Chilean factor comes to the fore, competition in the Americas intensifies
Norwegian exporters generally point to Chile as the main reason for this decline. As Chilean salmon production recovers, its large volumes of large-size fish are being concentrated into the US market, dealing a direct blow to Norwegian exporters.
"Chile's shipments to the US have clearly risen, and prices are more competitive. Norwegian large fish have lost their main export outlet and can only turn to Europe or Asia, but in the short term the market's absorption capacity is limited," industry insiders analyzed.
Short-term fluctuations cannot hide long-term demand growth
Despite the short-term price decline, the industry generally believes this is more a phased supply imbalance than weak demand.
At present, the biomass at Norwegian farms remains high. As the weather turns colder, the pace of fish harvesting is accelerating, and short-term supply pressure will continue. In the medium to long term, however, strong demand from Asia, especially the Chinese market, will still provide support for global prices.
One exporter concluded: "The current decline is more of a temporary market correction. After mid-November, as holiday purchasing begins, prices may rise again."
For more articles, please click to read