March 11, 2008

Norway seafood exports up 4.4 percent year-on-year
 

Norway seafood exports record a high of NOK 6.4 billion (US$1.25 billion), up 4.4 percent year-on-year in January to February 2008, according to figures by the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) and Statistics Norway.
 

Seafood worth US$642 million was exported in February 2008, up US$7.8 million.

Salmon exports brought in US$525 million, up US$15 million. Exports to Denmark and the UK had shrunken, but the Norwegian exports have found further growth in the French and Polish markets.

Trout exports brought in US$45 million, up US$5 million, with Russia and Ukraine as the largest importers.

Herring exports brought in US$194 million. Russia was the largest importer, accounting for US$53 million.

China and Japan were the largest importers of Norwegian mackerel, which shrunk by US$37 million.

Salted fish exports, which have Portugal as its top destination, had also shrunk by US$1.9 million.

Early Easter in 2008 and growing fish demand have lifted the export volume of Norwegian salmon and trout, according to Egil Sundheim, marketing director of NSEC.