July 8, 2013

In the first six months of 2013, the value of Norwegian seafood exports totalled NOK26.9 billion (US$4.3 billion), an increase of 7.2% compared to the same period last year.

Never before has the registered value of seafood exports been as high as in the first half of 2013, which also saw a new all-time high record set for the month of June. The value of seafood exports in June was up by 6% compared to the same month last year.

"The high value of Norwegian seafood exports in the first half of 2013 is due primarily to record exports of Norwegian salmon and Fjord Trout, which totalled NOK18.4 billion (US$2.9 billion). The results also show an increase in the value of exports from aquaculture, while exports from fishery fell by NOK1.9 billion (US$304 million) to a total of NOK8.3 billion (US$1.3 billion)," says Terje E Martinussen, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.

The value of exports of Norwegian salmon in the first half of 2013 totalled NOK17.4 billion (US$2.8 billion) – an increase of 25% compared to the same period last year. For the month of June alone, the value of exports increased by NOK403 million (US$64 million) or 16%, to a total of NOK3 billion (US$479 million). In June, the average price for fresh whole Norwegian salmon was NOK40.97 (US$6.55), compared to NOK26.80 (US$4.28) in June 2012. As in the previous month, the biggest import markets for Norwegian salmon were France, Poland and Russia.

Exports of Norwegian Fjord Trout increased in value in the first half of 2013 by NOK197 million (US$31.5 million) or 24% to a total of NOK1 billion (US$160 million). In June, the value of exports increased by NOK50 million (US$8 million) or 37% to a total of NOK185 million (US$30 million). The biggest import markets for Norwegian Fjord Trout were Russia and Belarus.

In this year's first six months, Norwegian herring exports fell in value by NOK914 million (US$146 million) or 41% to a total of NOK1.3 billion (US$208 million). In June, the value of exports of Norwegian herring totalled NOK205 million (US$33 million), a decline of NOK138 million (US$22 million) or 40%. Russia and Germany are the biggest markets for Norwegian herring.

Mackerel exports in the first half of 2013 fell in value by NOK443 million (US$71 million) or 41% to a total of NOK643 million (US$103 million). In June, the value of exports was down by NOK27 million (US$4.3 million) or 28% to a total of NOK70 million (US$11.2 million). The biggest export markets for mackerel from Norway are China, Russia and Japan.

In the first six months of 2013, exports of clip fish declined in value by NOK144 million (US$23 million) or 9% to a total of NOK1.4 billion (US$224 million). In June, exports of clip fish were down in value by NOK16 million (US$2.6 million) or 7% to a total of NOK205 million (US$33 million). A breakdown of the export figure for the first half-year shows that Norwegian Cod clip fish accounted for NOK740 million (US$118 million), saithe NOK539 million (US$86 million), cod NOK61 million (US$9.8 million), ling NOK30 million (US$4.8 million) and other ground fish NOK11 million (US$1.8 million) .

Export of salted fish including fillets fell in value by NOK68 million (US$10.9 million) or 11% to a total of NOK556 million (US$89 million), of which Norwegian cod accounted for NOK515 million (US$82.3 million).

Export of fresh Norwegian cod, including fillets, were up in value by 31% to a total of NOK818 million (US$131 million). In the same period, exports of frozen Norwegian cod increased in value by 7% to a total of NOK829 million (US$132.5 million).