June 11, 2013

 

 

Norway's seafood export reached NOK4.9 billion (US$851 million) in May, an increase of NOK966 million (US$168 million), or 25%, compared with May last year.

 

So far this year, seafood exports have amounted to NOK22.6 billion (US$4 billion), an increase of NOK1.7 billion (US$295 million), or 8%, compared with last year.

 

"Seafood exports for the first five months of the year have never been higher than the value reached this year. This growth is primarily due to the high price of salmon, but it is also a result of an increase in the export value of various cod products in May," says Egil Ove Sundheim, Director of Market Information at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

 

Salmon exports reached NOK2.6 billion (US$452 million) in May, a similar value to that achieved in May last year. So far this year, salmon exports have totalled NOK14.5 billion (US$2.5 billion). Compared with the first five months in 2012, this increase is a massive NOK3.1 billion (US$538 million), or 27%.

 

In May, the average price of whole, fresh Norwegian salmon was NOK41.89 (US$7.30) compared with NOK30.15 (US$5.24) in May 2012. As with the previous month, France and Poland were the largest purchasers of salmon from Norway.

 

Trout exports increased by NOK40 million (US$7 million) in May to make a combined value of NOK172 million (US$30 million). So far this year, trout exports have totalled NOK843 million (US$146 million), an increase of NOK145 million (US$25 million) compared with 2012. The largest purchasers of trout from Norway are Russia and Belarus.

 

Herring exports increased by NOK23 million (US$4 million) in May to a combined value of NOK169 million (US$29 million). So far this year, herring exports have been worth NOK1.1 billion (US$191 million), a decrease of NOK777 million (US$135 million) compared with last year. Russia and Germany are the largest markets for herring.

 

Mackerel sales fell by NOK70 million (US$12 million) in May to a total of NOK43 million (US$7.5 million). So far this year, mackerel exports have increased by NOK415 million (US$72 million) to a total of NOK574 million (US$100 million). The most important markets for mackerel are China and Russia.

 

Clipfish exports were at the same level as in May of last year with an export value of NOK257 million (US$45 million). Export sales comprise NOK154 million (US$27 million) for cod and NOK90 million (US$16 million) for saithe, representing an increase of NOK33 million (US$5.7 million), while the remainder is made up of ling, cusk and other types of white fish.

 

Exports of salted fish, including fillets, fell by NOK11 million (US$2 million) in May and ended up totalling NOK101 million (US$17.5 million), while NOK98 million (US$17 million) of the above comprised cod.

 

Exports of fresh cod from fisheries, including fillets, increased by NOK49 million (US$8.5 million) in May to a total export value of NOK101 million (US$17.5 million). In May, frozen cod exports, including fillets, increased by NOK55 million (US$9.6 million) to a total of NOK160 million (US$28 million).