--- Domestic inventories on the West Coast appear to be thin, for both Pink and Chum salmon, as raw materials are still on their way down from Alaska. Much of the frozen inventory has begun to ship overseas, according to domestic export databases, presumably to China and Europe. Looking just at weekly harvest patterns, as of the first week of August, Alaskan Pink salmon harvests were around 19 million fish, compared to 25.5 million fish during the same week in 2015. Total Alaska state-wide Pink salmon harvests are currently around 71 million fish. We are still a week or two away from seeing the biggest run, which will put downward pressure on the price. The disparity between Alaskan offers and targeted price points for Chinese buyers is quite vast at the moment, about $0.20 - $0.25 per pound. Catch area has some effect on these prices but most buyers are waiting for that Pink salmon run to peak. Ocean Run IQF Headed and Gutted pink salmon produced this season is in Seattle in the range of $1.50 - $1.56 per pound. New season fillet pricing on pink salmon is around $3.88 per pound for 1-3lb Good Meat Colour Trim C fillets. We will have a clearer outlook on pricing in the next 2 to 3 weeks. --- Alaskan Chum salmon harvests are strong so far this season, with harvests peaking in mid-July and settling now to about 1.3 million fish caught at the beginning of the month. Total Chum salmon harvests statewide as of last week are 19.1 million fish. Pale chum pricing does seem to be slightly inflated right now, and we expect steady pricing on Good meat colour chums and semi-brites too. Semi and dark skinned good meat colour chums are running betwen $1.85 and $2.00 per pound in Seattle, on new production. Some West Coast vendors commented on poor fresh Chum sales this year, so we anticipate decent volumes of frozen inventories. --- Finally, our TradexLIVE offer of the week is for IQF 6-9lb Headed and Gutted Chum Salmon. We have 100,000 lbs of 2017 production, good meat colour, semi-brite plus product available in Seattle for $2.20 /LB USD. Click or tap the icon above to view this offer. ----Thank you for joining me for the Tradex Foods "3-Minute Market Insight" This is Robert Reierson - “BUY SMART” and “EAT MORE SEAFOOD"

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