According to a quarterly FFA (Forum Fisheries Agency) market review report source Bangkok skipjack prices (4-7.5lbs whole round, C&F) peaked in early January at US$1550-1570/Mt, its highest levels since August 2007 due to increase in demand before falling to US$1550/Mt in the second half of January (see figure 1). Prices fell further to US$1400-1420/Mt in February due to an increase in supply before increasing to US$1435- 1475/Mt by early March.
As a result of poor catch price of skipjack rose further to US$1480- 1530/Mt at the end of the quarter. InfoFish reported Bangkok skipjack prices (4-7.5lbs whole round, C&F) increasing from US$1450-1500/Mt in January to US$1450-1550/Mt in the second half of February before falling to US$1450-1500/Mt in March 2008. Prices in
Prices fell further in February to be at US$1650-1600/Mt by mid-February before leveling of at US$1600/Mt in the remainder of February due to good catches in the Eastern Pacific and
Prices trended upwards in March rising from US$1600/Mt in early March to US$1600-1650/Mt by mid-March before increasing further to US$1800-1850/Mt at the end of the month due to a slow down in catches in Eastern Pacific and
The latest data available for purse seine caught skipjack landed at Yaizu shows the average price during the first quarter of 2008 rising from 171JPY/Mt (US$1581/Mt) in January to 173JPY/kg (US$1613/Mt) in February before falling to 166JPY/kg (US$1644/Mt) in March.
Source: FFA Tuna Market News Quarterly Review
