August 19, 2009
Norwegian seafood exports value soar in July
Norway's seafood exports in July have raked in around NOK3.3 billion (US$539.3 million), representing an impressive growth of 28 percent as compared to last year.
According to the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC), the value of Norwegian fish exports has stood at around the NOK3.3 billion mark for the fourth month in a row.
NSEC market information director Egil Sundheim said the main reason for this positive trend is due to the strong demand for Norwegian salmon in a number of markets.
Sundheim said that this is attributable to customers in key markets continuing to consume salmon despite the adverse economic climate, as well as to less competition from other salmon producers. Also, July figures were influenced by the relative weaker Norwegian krone compared to July 2008.
In the first seven months of this year Norwegian seafood exports totalled NOK23.8 billion, up by NOK3.7 billion on the same period last year.
The success was also borne out by the latest figures from Marine Harvest, the world's largest producer of farmed salmon which achieved an earning before interest and taxation figure of NOK257 million in the second quarter of the year.
US$1 = NOK6.118 (Aug 19)
