MOSCOW, August 19. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian fishery agency Rosrybolovstvo forecasts stable price environment for Russian red caviar. All the more so since the Russian market is now closed for cheap frozen, that is second-grade, caviar from the US.

“There are some concerns this product can increase in price but this has not yet happened,” the agency’s chief Ilya Shestakov said on Tuesday.

The official does not expect a repeat of 2013 sharp price growth, despite the possible decline in the market supply. Salmon season this year was somewhat worse than estimated due to natural conditions, while cheap US caviar lost access to the Russian market, he added.

Salmon catch totalled 211,000 tonnes as of August, which is 35% below the 2012 level (the figures are compared in odd and even years). In this season, the agency forecasts a catch of 320,000-330,000 tonnes and 15,000-16,000 tonnes of caviar, which will cover domestic demand for the delicacy.

The US had not supplied salmon caviar to Russia before the record 2013 season in Alaska. The sectoral associations then complained about the low customs value and quality of the US frozen caviar. According to the association of fish market production and trade facilities, with 13,000 tonnes of caviar harvest, US red caviar import amounted to about 3-4,000 tonnes.

According to the federal statistical service Rosstat, salmon caviar price had increased 22% in October 2013 year-on-year to 2,688 roubles, or $74.66, per kilo.