March 6, 2009

Norway's seafood exports hit record-high US$992.4 million for January and February 2009, up 10 percent year-on-year, according to official data.

Figures by Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) showed that in February 2009, seafood exports also reached an all-time high of NOK3.5 billion, up by NOK292 million from a year earlier.

NSEC market information director Egil Ove Sundheim said the positive development was attributed to the price of fresh Norwegian salmon which rose by NOK2.70 per kilogramme from a year earlier, and higher prices for herring and mackerel.

Exports of salmon grew to NOK3 billion in the first two months of 2009, up by NOK340 million from a year earlier, driven by stable quantities and higher prices.

France, Sweden and Poland registered the strongest growth, while exports to Denmark and the UK declined.

Salmon trout exports rose by NOK63 million to NOK293 million in the same period, with Russia and Japan as the top importers.

The export of herring increased by almost 25 percent year-on-year to NOK1.2 billion in January to February 2009, with Russia being the biggest importer.

The export of mackerel rose by NOK190 million to NOK381 million, with Russia and Japan being the biggest importers.

However, cod exports decreased to NOK900 million in the first two months of 2009, down by almost NOK200 million from a year earlier.

The largest decrease, by NOK124 million to NOK80 million, was registered in exports of salted cod, while exports of frozen fillets shrunk by NOK85 million to NOK88 million.

US$1 = NOK7.09 (Mar 6)