November 21, 2012

Norway's seafood exports for August 2012 have seen a 13% rise compared to the same month of 2011.

Salmon and herring are at the very top of the list.

In August, Norwegian salmon exporters sold for NOK2.6 billion (US$453 billion) - an increase of 24% compared to 2011. The export of herring doubled compared to the previous year. So far this year, Norway has exported herring at a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2011.

"The increased volume of exports gives a total growth in August of almost half a billion Kroner," informs Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market communication at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Although August shows a significant increase, so far this year there has been a decline in the amount of exported seafood compared to last year. This, however, is due to a period when the price of salmon fell. During the past three months, the price level has been back to normal.

The Export Council also reports that the export of salmon to China has increased over the past two years.

In the first eight months of this year the export of salmon to China reached 7218 tonnes, compared with 6034 tonnes in the same period in 2010.