December 12, 2013

 

Norway's seafood export hit record high in November

 

 

Norwegian seafood export value has totalled NOK55 billion (US$8.9 billion) this year to date and at the end of November it had already exceeded the record year of 2010, the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) stated.

 

In November, the value of Norwegian seafood exports totalled NOK6.6 billion (US$1.1 million), an increase of NOK1 billion (US$162.7 million) compared to the same month last year. For the year to date, the value of exports has risen by 15% compared to the same period last year by NOK7.2 billion (US$1.2 billion).

 

"Seafood exports have never been bigger," says Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information with the Norwegian Seafood Council. "One of the most important contributory factors is the increase in value of Norwegian salmon exports. In the EU, our most important market, the share of fresh seafood is increasing in terms of value and Norwegian salmon is one of the products gaining most ground."

 

The value of Norwegian salmon exports in November totalled NOK4.1 billion (US$666.9 million), an increase of no less than NOK1.1 billion (US$178.9 million) or 38% compared to November last year. This year to date, the value of exports of Norwegian salmon has totalled NOK35.4 billion (US$5.7 million), an increase of 33% to NOK8.7 billion (US$1.4 billion) compared to the same period last year.

 

The average price for fresh whole Norwegian salmon in November was NOK39.02 (US$6.3) per kilogramme, compared to NOK27.12 (US$4.4) per kilogramme in November 2012. The biggest markets for Norwegian salmon are France and Poland.

 

Exports of Norwegian fjord trout in November increased in value by 35% or NOK64 million (US$10.4 million) to a total of NOK250 million (US$40.7 million). For the year to date, the value of exports of Norwegian fjord trout has totalled NOK2.1 billion (US$341.6 million), an increase of NOK522 million (US$84.9 million) on-year. The biggest importers of Norwegian fjord trout are Russia and Belarus.

 

The value of Norwegian herring exports in November totalled NOK630 million (US$102.5 million), down by 4% or NOK28 million (US$4.5 million) compared to November 2012. This year to date, the value of Norwegian herring exports has totalled NOK2.7 billion (US$440.7 million), down by 28% to NOK1.1 billion (US$178.9 million) on-year. The biggest markets for Norwegian herring are Russia and Lithuania.

 

Mackerel exports in November increased in value by NOK21 million (US$3.4 million) or 5% to a total of NOK418 million (US$68 million). For the year to date, mackerel exports have been down in value by NOK109 million (US$17.7 million) to a total of NOK2.8 billion (US$455.4 million). The most important markets for mackerel exports are Japan and China.

 

Norway's clipfish exports fell in value in November by NOK170 million (US$27.6 million) to a total of NOK255 million (US$41.5 million). A breakdown of this figure shows that Norwegian cod clipfish accounted for NOK128 million (US$20.8 million) and Norwegian saithe clipfish NOK106 million (US$17.2 million), with the remainder accounted for by ling, torsk and other groundfish. The biggest market for Norwegian cod clipfish is Portugal, while Brazil is the biggest market for Norwegian Saithe clipfish.

 

The value of exports of salted fish including fillets in November totalled NOK41 million (US$6.7 million), up by NOK5 million (US$0.8 million) from November last year. Of this figure, Norwegian cod accounted for NOK30 million (US$4.9 million), ling NOK5 million (US$0.8 million) and torsk NOK4.5 million (US$0.7 million). Portugal is the biggest market for salted fish from Norway.

 

Fresh Norwegian cod exports from fishery including fillets fell in value in November by NOK3 million (US$0.5 million) to a total of NOK66 million (US$10.7 million). November exports of frozen Norwegian cod including fillets were up by NOK19 million (US$3.1 million) to a total of NOK206 million (US$33.5 million).