October 12, 2009
Norway seafood exports up 18 percent
Seafood exports thus far in 2009 stand at NOK30.6 billion (US$5.4 billion), 18-percent higher than during the same period last year, according to the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC).
In September, the figure was NOK3.8 billion, up by NOK424 million as compared to the same period in 2008.
NSEC director of market information Egil Ove Sundheim said demand for Norwegian salmon fillets in the US is one of the driving forces behind the growth in exports for the year to date.
Sundheiam said that at the end of September, the value of Norwegian salmon exports to the US was close to NOK1 billion, or about four times the value for the same period last year.
Exports of Norwegian salmon totalled 75,000 tonnes last month, a record number, while exports in September 2008 totalled only 59,000 tonnes.
Last September's earnings topped NOK2 billion while this year to date, exports of Norwegian salmon totalled 573,000 tonnes at NOK16.7 billion, a rise of NOK4.1 billion.
Exports of Norwegian Fjord trout fell last month by NOK30 million to NOK151 million mainly due to a drop in volume. The total value of exports of Norwegian Fjord trout thus far in 2009 is NOK1.4 billion, a growth of NOK172 million.
France and Poland are the biggest importers of the salmon and Russia and Japan import the most Norwegian Fjord trout. Salmon exports to the US are approaching NOK1 billion and exports of salmon fillets have quadrupled compared to the same period in 2008.
Exports of herring last month fell NOK65 million to NOK114 million compared to September last year. In 2009 to date, exports of herring have jumped by NOK439 million in value to NOK2.4 billion.
Russia and the Ukraine are still the biggest importers of herring, while Germany is showing the most growth in imports of the fish, up by NOK148 million to NOK242 million. This growth is primarily attributable to imports of frozen herring fillets.
In September, the value of exports of Norwegian mackerel leaped by NOK111 million to NOK343 million. This year thus far, the value of mackerel exports stands at NOK1 billion, up 70 percent.
US$1 = NOK5.64 (Oct 12)
