February 19, 2010

Norway booming salmon exports threatens Chilean market

As of November 2009, Norway filled in for 56.7% of the Chilean salmon exports to US, the second largest market for the local producers after Japan.

This was a result of the decreased Chilean production which has also pushed prices up by 6%.

Local exports to the US totalled 57,808 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2009 representing a 36.35% decrease compared to the same period of the previous year.

Meanwhile, Norwegian exports to US totalled 24,599 tonnes as of November 2009, representing a 320% increase compared to 2008 results.

This scenario might be accented this year since a 50% decrease in the Chilean production of Atlantic salmon is expected due to early harvests and lower sowings caused by the sanitary status.

However, the general manager of the Chilean Salmon Industry Association (SalmonChile) Carlos Odebret, dismisses the idea that the Norwegian industry could completely replace Chilean imports in the US. Mainly due to the value added included in the local products and its lower commercial price.