Groundfish exports, including clipfish, salted fish and stockfish, are at NOK 837.7 million (US$141 million) in May, a 6% decline on the same month for 2011, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

 

Exports of fresh and frozen products fell by 21%, while exports of clipfish to Portugal enjoyed a strong month.

 

Exports of clipfish in May totalled at NOK262.2 million (US$44.1 million), up by 55% from the same month last year. The volume of clipfish exports in May totalled 6,517 tonnes, up by 2,109 tonnes from May last year.

 

Exports of cod clipfish in May totalled at NOK189.8 million (US$32 million), an increase by 75% compared to the same month last year. Exports to Portugal have risen to a total of NOK146.3 million (US$25 million).

 

The volume of exports was up from 1,692 tonnes in May 2011 to 3,294 tonnes in May 2012, an impressive increase of no less than 95%.

 

Exports of saithe clipfish grew to NOK56 million (US$9.4 million) in May this year, with the biggest growth in exports to Congo and Jamaica.

 

The value of salted fish exports, both whole and filleted, totalled at NOK112.6 million (US$19 million) in May, a reduction of NOK25.4 million (US$4.3 million) compared to the same month last year. Exports to Portugal showed the biggest fall, down from NOK111.6 million (US$19 million) to NOK85.4 million (US$14.4 million). Exports to Spain, the next biggest market for salted fish after Portugal, have risen to NOK23.3 million (US$4 million).

 

Exports of stockfish in May fell to a total of NOK21.8 million (US$3.7 million). Compared to May last year, exports to Italy were down to NOK3.6 million (US$605,205) and exports to Nigeria declined to NOK12.9 million (US$2.2 million).

 

From May 2011 to May 2012, exports of fresh groundfish products from fishery fell in value, to a total of NOK92.8 million (US$15.6 million). Exports of fresh whole fish declined to a total of NOK 68.2 million (US$11.5 million) and exports of fresh fillets were down to NOK24.7 million (US$4.2 million).

 

More fresh products were exported to France and Germany, while the biggest drop was in exports to Denmark. 

 

Exports of frozen groundfish fell in May, to a total of NOK291.1 million (US$49 million). Exports of frozen whole fish were down, to a total of NOK210.7 million (US$35.5 million) and exports of frozen fillet products fell to a total of NOK78.4 million (US$13.2 million).

 

China remains the biggest market for frozen groundfish, despite a reduction in the value of exports, to a total of NOK104.9 million (US$17.7 million).

 

Exports of products from aquaculture continued to fall in May, down by 22% from May last year to a total of NOK15.8 million (US$2.7 million). The fall is largely attributable to a reduction in exports of whole farmed cod, down in value, to NOK8.8 million (US$1.5 million).