May 16, 2007

Norway salmon exports down in April

Norway's salmon exports fell by 12 million Norwegian crowns (US$2.0 million) on-year to 1.3 billion crowns (US$214.9 million) in April 2007, according to the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC). 

Despite the fall in value, tonnage was up 17 percent (6,247 tonnes) to 42,162 tonnes.

For the first quarter, the value of salmon exports rose by 710 million crowns (US$117.4 million) to 5.7 billion crowns (US$942.6 million), compared to the last quarter Tonnage was up by 2,764 tonnes to 180,709 tonnes,.

During the period, the average export price of fresh salmon fell by 1.27 crowns (US$0.21) per kg to 28.66 crowns (US$4.7) per kg.

This quarter also reversed the decline in exports to Denmark over the past few years, with exports increasing 23 percent this year to 957 tonnes.

However, the largest increase was seen in Russia, where exports more than doubled to 2,000 tonnes this quarter.

For the month of April, Russia was the fifth largest export market after France, Denmark, the UK and Poland.

In April 2007, exports fell by 9.0 percent in value terms, and by 2.0 percent in volume terms.

Exports of salmon trout to Japan went down sharply by 70 percent and exports to China virtually ceased from the 200 tonnes seen previously.