Farmed salmon prices will finally fall in the week, according to industry sources, although views varied as to why.

"We have been waiting for this [fall] for a long time," an executive with one salmon farming company told IntraFish, who put the shift down to appointment of a new Norwegian fisheries minister this week.

He said prices are expected to be NOK 10 (€1.00/$1.10) less than they were last week for larger sized fish, and NOK 3 (€0.30/$0.33) to NOK 4 (€0.40/$0.44) less for the smaller sizes.

The farmer gave the following price estimates for FOB facilities:

  • 3-4 kilos: NOK 67 (€6.80/$7.40) - NOK 68 (€6.90/$7.60) per kilo
  • 4-5 kilos: NOK 68 (€6.90/$7.60) - NOK 69 (€7.00/$7.70) per kilo
  • 5+ kilos: around NOK 70 (€7.10/$7.80) per kilo

"Everyone expected the price bubble to burst in the third week of January, as they usually do, but this year that didn't happen until the fourth week," one exporter in the south of Norway told IntraFish.

He gave the following prices to farmers:

  • 3-4 kilos: NOK 67 (€6.80/$7.40) per kilo
  • 4-5 kilos: NOK 68 (€6.90/$7.60) per kilo
  • 5+ kilos: NOK 69 (€7.00/$7.70) per kilo

Another exporter said prices have been lower since Wednesday, but that the downturn has now stopped.

"It is due to the virus fear from China," he said. "After that, better weather and more supply came."

He gave the following price estimates:

  • 3-4 kilos: NOK 67 (€6.80/$7.40) per kilo
  • 4-5 kilos: NOK 69 (€7.00/$7.70) to NOK 70 (€7.10/$7.80) per kilo
  • 5-6 kilos: NOK 72 (€7.30/$8.00) to NOK 73 (€7.40/$8.10) per kilo
  • 6+ kilos: about NOK 80 (€8.10/$8.90) per kilo