September 10, 2013

Norway's seafood exports have reached US$782 million in August 2013, an increase of US$130 million or 20% over the same period in 2012.

For the year to date, Norwegian seafood exports reach US$6 billion, an increase of 11% or US$600 million, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

"A reduction in the volume of exports, combined with strong demand for Norwegian salmon and Norwegian fjord trout, is keeping Norwegian salmon prices high and accounts for the growth in the value of Norwegian seafood exports," says Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

The value of Norwegian salmon exports in August totalled US$549 million, an increase of US$132 million or 31% compared to August last year. This year to date, the value of Norwegian salmon exports totalled US$4 billion, an increase of US$865 million or 28%. In August, the average price for fresh whole Norwegian salmon was US$7 compared to US$5 in August 2012. France, Poland and Russia were the biggest importers of Norwegian salmon.

Exports of Norwegian fjord trout in August increased in value by US$8 million or 31% to a total of US$36 million. For the year to date, the value of exports of Norwegian fjord trout totalled US$233 million, an increase of US$55 million compared to the same period in 2012. The biggest importers of Norwegian fjord trout are Russia and Belarus.

Exports of Norwegian herring in August fell in value by US$6 million or 18% to a total of US$26 million. For the year to date, the value of herring exports totalled US$266 million, down by 40% or US$166 million compared to the same period last year. The biggest markets for Norwegian herring are Russia and Germany.

Mackerel exports in August were down in value by US$3.5 million to a total of US$7 million. This year to date, mackerel exports are down in value by US$76 million to a total of US$127 million. The most important markets for mackerel export are Russia and China.

The exports of clipfish in August fell in value by US$2.2 million to a total of US$46 million. A breakdown of this figure shows that Norwegian cod clipfish accounted for US$26 million and Norwegian saithe clipfish for US$16.5 million, with the remainder accounted for by ling, torsk and other ground fish. The biggest market for Norwegian cod clipfish is Portugal, while Brazil is the biggest market for Norwegian Saithe clipfish.

August exports of salted fish, including fillets, totalled US$5.3 million, on a par with August last year. Of this figure, Norwegian cod accounted for US$4.3 million, ling for US$665,000, and Norwegian saithe for US$432,000. Portugal is the biggest market for salted fish from Norway.

Fresh Norwegian cod exports, including fillets, increased in value in August by US$1.2 million to a total of US$7.5 million. In the same month, exports of frozen Norwegian cod, including fillets, were up by US$5.5 million to a total of US$18.6 million.