Shrimp Closing Commentary, Thursday December 17, 2009

Urner Barry Market Update -
December 17, 2009, 17:04 EST

White Shrimp: 16-20 and 21-25 count HLSO Mexican white shrimp are full steady to firm with some premiums noted. 41-50 count and smaller Latin whites are mixed and offered slightly lower in order to stimulate buying interest. The undertone on 41’s and smaller remains generally steady as after the current production, harvesting will not resume until later in January.

Black Tiger Shrimp: 13-15 and 16-20 count shrimp are firm and wanted. Supplies are related tight with inventories closely held. The balance of the market is full steady.

Value-added Shrimp: 13-15 and 16-20 count whites and black tiger shrimp are full steady to firm for a good demand. 8-12 count are mixed but generally steady. The balance of the market is steady.

Gulf Domestic Shrimp: The domestic shrimp market has a decidedly firm feel, though with some slight exceptions. HLSO shrimp range full steady to firm, with notable firming on both U12 and U15 count sizes, and 16-20 whites. Availability of these sizes is thin. Conversely, some slight weakness was noted in 31-35 HLSO brown shrimp. PUD’s also range full steady to firm given, largely the result of ongoing supply concerns. There is a slight exception in 36-40 count, these are still rather well supplied.

Urner Barry's Black Tiger Shrimp Index

12/17/2009:The Black Tiger Shrimp Index is $5.21; +.02

The headless, shell-on (HLSO) shrimp index is a measure of general conditions in the shrimp market. It is not a reflection of any single item. Urner Barry historically tracks all of our market quotations which should be consulted for individual items.

The shrimp index is calculated using an average of Urner Barry market quotations; additionally the quotes are weighted based on the import volume of each count size. Shell-on shrimp imports from the Black Tiger producing countries and White producing countries of Thailand and Indonesia have been edited in order to reflect those countries significant shift in production from Black Tiger to P. vannamei. Shrimp imports from other countries are divided into either Black Tiger or White producing countries.

The bottom chart represents the weight, in million pounds, of monthly shell-on shrimp imports.

Urner Barry's White Shrimp Index

12/17/2009:The White Shrimp Index is $2.82; -.01

The headless, shell-on (HLSO) shrimp index is a measure of general conditions in the shrimp market. It is not a reflection of any single item. Urner Barry historically tracks all of our market quotations which should be consulted for individual items.

 

The shrimp index is calculated using an average of Urner Barry market quotations; additionally the quotes are weighted based on the import volume of each count size. Shell-on shrimp imports from the Black Tiger producing countries and White producing countries of Thailand and Indonesia have been edited in order to reflect those countries significant shift in production from Black Tiger to P. vannamei. Shrimp imports from other countries are divided into either Black Tiger or White producing countries.

The bottom chart represents the weight, in million pounds, of monthly shell-on shrimp imports.

Salmon Closing Commentary, Thursday December 17, 2009
Urner Barry Market Update -
December 17, 2009, 15:57 EST

Farmed Salmon: The Northeast wholefish market remains unchanged; supplies are adequate for a moderate demand. Supplies of larger wholefish continue to be more readily available than smaller wholefish.

The European wholefish market is firm; supplies range adequate to barely adequate for a moderate to active demand. 5-6 kilogram fish is also available and is being quoted.

The European fillet market is also full steady to firm and the market adjusted higher on 2-3 and 3-4 pound fillets. A few slightly higher offerings are noted. Supplies are barely adequate for a moderate to active demand.

The Chilean fillet market remains steady at listed levels; supplies range adequate to barely adequate for moderate demand. Market participants continue to report delays out of Chile of around 2 days.

The Chilean steelhead market continues about steady; supplies are adequate to fully adequate for a fair demand.

The Chilean coho market remains steady.

The West Coast wholefish market is firm on 6-8 and 8-10s; supplies are light for an active demand. The remainder of the market is steady to about steady. Supplies of larger wholefish are adequate to fully adequate for a moderate demand. Supplies of smaller fish, especially 6-8s, are barely adequate.

The West Coast fillet market adjusted on 3-4 and 4-5 pound fillets; a few lower offerings are noted.

Wild Salmon: The market is steady.

Janice Brown
Urner Barry Publications, Inc.
732-240-5330 ext 280
janice@urnerbarry.com
www.urnerbarry.com
www.comtell.com

Urner Barry's Fresh Farmed Salmon Index

12/17/2009:
The Fresh Farmed Salmon Index is $3.68; +.03

The top chart represents Urner Barry's Salmon Index. This index is calculated using Urner Barry market quotations listed in Urner Barry’s Seafood Price-Current. Those quotations are then weighted, based on the average amount of product imported for whole fish and fillets.

The bottom chart represents the weight, in million pounds, of monthly imports of Chilean Fillets, European Fillets, Northeast Whole East, European Whole, and Seattle Whole West.

Note: Urner Barry's Fresh Farmed Salmon Index is an indication of the combined average value for Chilean fillets, European fillets, Northeast wholefish, European wholefish, and West Coast wholefish. It institutes a weighted value of each commodity as a proportion of the total supply from the producing areas. For example, if Chilean fillets represent 60% of the total, West Coast wholefish 25% and North Atlantic wholefish 15%, the value of each commodity would be weighted accordingly. This index is intended to be viewed as a snapshot of the general health of the fresh farmed salmon market in the United States.

Source: Urner Barry´s