According to Fishfarmingxpert, salmon continues to be the number one fish species sold on the Irish market at retail level in 2009. Following an extremely successful Easter, sales volumes have declined slightly in the latter half of year.
This decline in the second and third quarters is related to an overall decline in the Irish seafood market and is associated with lower volumes being purchased on each shopping visit and shopping visits becoming less frequent. This is in spite of an overall price decrease in salmon fillets which were €13.52 per kg in the third quarter of 2009 compared to €14.57 for the same period in 2008, the review stated.
On the export market, the low levels of salmon production in Ireland continue to impact on export performance. Data up to August 2009 show that overall volumes have decreased by 65 per cent.
“As we noted last month there has been increased volumes into the domestic market. In fact imports have decreased by 30 per cent up to August 2009 showing the increased switching to Irish supplies. But overall Irish supplies have not increased significantly and Ireland now has a negative trade balance for salmon of €12m (August 2009),” the review stated.
Looking to the Irish Christmas market it will be extremely competitive particularly for smoked salmon producers. Recent store visits have indicated 150 grams sides of smoked salmon for €2. This is coupled with an already decreasing price for smoked salmon which is on average 8 per cent lower in 2009 than in 2008. While Christmas is a crucial time for smoked salmon producers and accounted for 38 per cent of all smoked salmon sales in 2008 it is vital that they do not drive too much value out of the market by concentrating only on price promotions.
Salmon Market Annual Review
IRELAND - The salmon market comment annual review 2009 by BIM Business Research & Intelligence shows that Irish supplies have not increased significantly in the last year.
