Saury Prices in Japan Likely to Drop Slightly in Late Sept.

August 17, 2018

Tokyo- Retail prices in Japan of saury, an autumn delicacy, are projected to inch down in late September as the Fisheries Agency estimated recently that the country's catches of the fish this year are likely to increase slightly from the second-lowest level on record marked in 2017.

Prices surged in 2017, with saury catches slumping to about 85,000 tons in the year, about a seventh of the 1958 peak of 575,000 tons.

Saury prices are expected to basically remain high this year. But an official of a retailer said "we hope that consumers who refrained from buying saury last year due to high prices will come back to choose the fish this year" as prices are seen declining.

Saury catches are expected to stay low overall this year, but will likely increase in the second half of September, according to the agency.

Last year, the average wholesale saury price was two times higher than the level 10 years before, and retail prices remained above 300 yen per fish throughout the season as a result.

In addition, saury put on sale last year was small generally, weighing only 120 grams or so per fish, compared with a 150-gram saury with a lot of fat.

"This year, prices are likely to fall to around 200-250 yen in late September after staying at levels as high as last year's until earlier that month," a retail industry official said.

Previously, saury prices in Japan tended to drop to around 100 yen in the second half of September from high levels seen until the start of the full-fledged fishing season in late August.

"Saury is no longer a type of fish" that can be bought easily, an official at a Tokyo supermarket said.

"I can spend up to 150 yen on saury per fish," a housewife in her 50s said, adding that she will buy another fish if a saury costs more than that.

Still, saury continues to be a major seasonal fish.

While noting that saury often does not sell out if prices are too high, a supermarket official said, "We want to offer the fish at reasonable prices while closely monitoring market prices." Jiji Press