Norwegian salmon prices are forecast to slip down in the coming weeks, as harvesting volumes are expected to ramp up, according to market players.

With sea lice problems and farmers reaching the limit for maximum biomass (MTB) permits, harvesting is bound to go up in the coming period, several players told IntraFish, resulting in a fall in prices.

“Yesterday [Thursday] it was a bit of a stronger market, but that was because some players could not harvest as planned, one European buyer told IntraFish.

“But it seems that there is going to be a big harvest volume the next week, I am sitting tight and not rushing,” he said.

According to the exporter, buyers want the price to go down by at least NOK 3 (€0.31/$0.37) to NOK 4 (€0.42/$0.49) per kilo, while farmers want the same price as the previous Friday.

“There is a lot of space in between,” he said.

Norwegian exporters are also talking about a slight decrease in prices.

“The market is a bit hesitant,” one exporter told IntraFish. “Many people are excited about the MTB harvest in the next week.

“I have traded around NOK 1 (€0.10/$0.12) below the level last Friday, but in euro terms it is about the same price due to changes in the exchange rate,” he said.

Another exporter told IntraFish he had not done many trades yet, but so far prices were either stable or down around NOK 1 (€0.10/$0.12) per kilo.

“The volume is the big uncertainty,” he said.

Overall IntraFish was told of the following prices:

Sizes 2-3 kilograms -- NOK 47 (€4.90/$5.80) to NOK 48 (€5/$5.90) per kg
Sizes 3-4 kilograms – NOK 52 (€5.40/$6.40) to NOK 53 (€5.50/$6.50) per kg
Sizes 4-5 kilograms – NOK 53 (€5.50/$6.50) to NOK 54 (€5.60/$6.60) per kg
Sizes 5-6 kilograms – NOK 56 (€5.80/$6.90) to NOK 57 (€5.90/$7) per kg
Sizes 6 kilograms and above -- NOK 60 (€6.30/$7.40) per kilo and upwards, depending on the market

Prices

Higher volumes putting pressure on Norwegian salmon prices