Alaska Department of Revenue released the May-August 2005 Alaska Salmon Price Report (ASPR) October 19. The ASPR covers wholesale volume and first wholesale value, by species and area, for six key Alaska salmon products. “First wholesale” is defined
as the first sale by a processor to a buyer outside their affiliate network. The report as published by Department of Revenue is specific to area but is summarized into a statewide table here.
Total May-August ASPR sales value is up 18 percent, from $285 million in 2004 to $337 million in 2005. Total value is up in all categories and per-pound value is up in five of the six categories. Per-pound value of salmon roe declined slightly, but growth in sales volume of roe offset the price decrease.
ASPR Frozen H&G
Total wholesale value of H&G frozen salmon was up from $124 million to $153 million, mostly the result of improved sockeye price and a major increase in frozen pink sales volume and price.
May – August sales volume of frozen H&G pinks more than doubled, from 17 million pounds in 2004 to 40 million pounds in 2005. The sales volume growth is particularly significant in light of the price increase, up from 41 cents per pound in 2003 to 51 cents in 2004 and to 62 cents per pound in 2005.
Sales volume of H&G frozen sockeye during May – August was down from 55 million pounds in 2004 to 51 million pounds in 2005 but price was substantially higher. Average price was $2.10 per pound, up 36 cents from the 2004 average of $1.74 for the same period.
Sales volume and value of H&G frozen coho was essentially unchanged from May – August 2004. Although demand for coho was reportedly stronger than in 2004, coho from the 2005 harvest were substantially smaller than last year’s fish. This makes size-based price breaks in the marketplace more significant, reducing aggregate price per pound for the category in spite of strong demand.
Sales volume of H&G frozen chum was down 10 percent (from 18 million to 16 million pounds) but average price increased from 56 cents to 72 cents per pound. In percentage terms, per-pound value of frozen chum showed the largest increase within the frozen H&G category (up 29 percent).
Sales of H&G frozen king salmon were down from 826,000 to 684,000 pounds (17 percent) and average price dropped slightly from $2.66 to $2.49 per pound.
ASPR Fresh H&G
Total May – August sales volume of fresh H&G salmon dropped slightly in 2005, from 29 million to 27.8 million pounds. However, increased price per pound offset the 5 percent drop in volume, generating a $5 million increase in total category value, from $56 million to $61 million.
Sales of fresh H&G sockeye declined from 16.8 million to 15 million pounds, but price increased 41 cents from $2.24 to $2.65 per pound. At least some of the decline in volume is from elimination of Bristol Bay’s June “General District” fishery. June sales of fresh Bristol Bay sockeye dropped from 798,000 pounds in 2004 to 37,000 pounds in 2005.
Sales of fresh H&G coho increased slightly (2 million to 2.3 million pounds) and average price increased from $1.80 to $2.04 per pound. Sales volume of H&G fresh king salmon grew significantly, from 1.6 million to 2.6 million pounds. Average price dropped 78 cents, from $5.14 to $4.36.
ASPR Roe
Total May – August wholesale value of salmon roe increased substantially in 2005, from $39 million to $50 million. Volume and value increases in pink and sockeye roe drove the increase.
Pink roe posted a slight increase in per-pound value, but sales volume nearly doubled from 3.9 million to 7.2 million pounds. Sockeye roe sales increased from 3.9 million to 5.1 million pounds and per-pound value was up 18 percent, from $3.01 to $3.55 per pound. Chum roe sales were down from 2.2 million to 1.4 million pounds, accompanied by a price decrease of nearly $1 per pound.
Typically, about 35-40 percent of annual salmon roe sales (several million pounds) occur during the September – December period, so a significant portion of the roe pack is not yet sold.
ASPR Canned Salmon
Total May-August wholesale value of canned salmon is up from $51 million in 2004 to $55 million in 2005. Sales volume for the period decreased, so the value growth comes from improved prices for tall pinks and red halves. Specific sales volume and case prices are discussed in a separate article below.
