February 15, 2012

 

Norway's seafood exports rise in January

Norway's seafood exports last month have reached NOK4.2 billion (US$734 million), an increase of NOK34 million (US$6 million) as compared to January 2011, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

 

"We have noted two general trends in January: on the one hand, there has been an increase in exports of products from fish caught in the wild such as herring, mackerel and clipfish. And on the other, the value of exports of Norwegian salmon is showing a decline as a result of lower prices", says Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information with NSC.

 

In January, the value of exports of salmon totalled NOK1.9 billion (US$331 million), down by NOK423 million (US$74 million) from January last year. The price of fresh whole salmon fell from NOK39.47 (US$6.90) to NOK25.99 (US$4.50) per kilogramme.

 

In terms of volume, however, exports of all salmon products increased by 12,000 tonnes to a total of 67,000 tonnes. France, Russia and Poland were the biggest importers of Norwegian salmon.

 

The value of exports of fjord trout increased in January by NOK26 million (US$5 million) to a total of NOK146 million (US$25 million). Russia was the biggest market for fjord trout in January.

 

Herring exports in January were up in value by NOK190 million (US$3 million) to a total of NOK629 million (US$110 million). Russia is the fastest growing market, with exports in January up in value by NOK42 million (US$7 million) to a total value of NOK168 million (US$29 million). Russia was also the biggest market for herring in January, followed by Germany and Ukraine.

 

Exports of mackerel in January increased in value by NOK113 million (US$20 million) to a total of NOK351 million (US$61 million). The Netherlands was the fastest growing market, up in value by NOK48 million (US$8 million) to a total of NOK55 million (US$9 million).

 

This positions the Netherlands as the second biggest market for mackerel after China, to which exports of mackerel in January totalled NOK88 million (US$15 million).

 

In January, exports of clipfish increased in value by NOK91 million (US$16 million) to a total of NOK350 million (US$61 million). Brazil was the biggest growth market, with exports up in value by NOK75 million (US$13 million) to a total of NOK214 million (US$37 million). Exports to Portugal were up by NOK12 million (US$2 million) to a total of NOK46 million (US$8 million).

 

The value of exports of salted fish was down by NOK15 million (US$3 million) in January to a total of NOK37 million (US$6 million). Portugal remains the biggest market for salted fish with exports valued at NOK14 million (US$2 million), although this is a decline of NOK9 million (US$2 million) compared to January last year. Exports to the next biggest market, Spain, increased in January by NOK8 million (US$1 million) to a total of NOK12 million (US$2 million).

 

Exports of fresh and frozen cod increased in value in January by NOK89 million (US$16 million) to a total of NOK504 million (US$88 million). China was the biggest market, with exports valued at NOK104 million (US$18 million). The US showed the biggest growth in January, up by NOK27 million (US$5 million) to a total of NOK42 million (US$7 million).