June 25, 2013

Peru's Camanchaca expects fishmeal, salmon prices to increase

Salmon fishing company Camanchaca projects that fishmeal prices will rise by 18% this year, reaching US$1,750/tonne, compared to US$1,478 in 2012.

During a presentation to investors, the company associated this increase with the announcement on Peru's fishing quotas for the period from May to July, held in April.

The Peruvian government indicated that quotas will be remained at about two million tonnes, which is a measure that in Camanchaca's opinion will restrict the activity in this market. This is added to the fact that China's demand remains strong and port stocks have been low so far.

In addition, the company highlighted that salmon sale prices have been gradually recovering since the first quarter of 2013. Therefore, a 20% rise is expected in 2013, amounting to US$5.1/kilogramme, compared with a price of US$4 that had been registered in the previous year.

It was also admitted that there has been a worsening of health conditions, particularly in the case of Atlantic salmon mortalities, which this year would be around 13%, compared with 8% in 2012. This is linked to the infectious anaemia ISA virus outbreaks in several farms in the country: Pesquera Los Fiordos, Multiexport Foods and Salmones Camanchaca.

Last April, Los Fiordos was the first salmon firm to report ISA virus signs in fish from a cage in Garrao centre, located in the Association of Concessions (ACS) No. 18 D.

Days later, Multiexport detected the presence of ISA virus in one of the cages of the King production centre, located in the District N ° 20. And last week, Salmones Camanchaca confirmed the finding of the virus in Izaza centre, located in the ACS No. 20, within the Macrozone 6.