July 27, 2018

 

Norway's first half seafood exports 'reach record levels'

 

 

The first half of this year is the best ever for Norwegian seafood exports, reaching record levels thanks to the strong growth in demand in EU markets, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

 

Norway exported 1.4 million tonnes of seafood valued at NOK48.1 billion during the first six months, an increase of 10% in volume and 4% or NOK1.8 billion in export value, compared with the first half of 2017.

 

Paul Aandahl, an NSC analyst, said that although the figures were largely driven by salmon exports, cod, saithe (or pollock) and haddock also recorded the best half-yearly results.

 

Aandahl added that the main reason for the increase in salmon export value was increased demand from the EU, particularly in France, the UK and Italy. Other contributing factors were reduced domestic supplies of salmon in the EU and strong Euro and British currencies.

 

In June alone, Norway exported 180,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK7.9 billion. Although volume was down 9%, value was up 4% or NOK274 million, compared with June 2017.

 

Salmon, trout exports

 

Norway exported 485,000 tonnes of salmon (up 8%) worth NOK32.6 billion (up 4% or NOK 1.1 billion) in the first half compared with the first half of 2017. Poland, France and Denmark bought the most Norwegian salmon in the first half.

 

In June, 86,000 tonnes of salmon were exported with a total value of NOK 5.6 billion. This is an increase of 17% in volume and 6% or NOK 333 million in value compared with June last year. The average price for whole fresh salmon in June was NOK61.79 per kilogramme, down from NOK68.64 per kg in June 2017.

 

Norway exported 20,900 tonnes of trout with a total value of NOK1.4 billion in the first half. This is an increase of 27% in volume, while the value increased 7% or NOK91 million compared with the first half of last year. The largest trout buyers from Norway in the first half were Belarus, the US and Japan.

 

Some 3,200 tonnes of trout were exported in June, up 17%, with a value of NOK234 million, up 4% or NOK10 million, compared with June 2017.

 

Cod, crab, prawn exports

 

Norway exported 50,800 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillets, worth a total of NOK1.8 billion in the first half. This is a decrease of 5%, while the export value increased 2% or NOK45 million, compared with the first half of 2017.

 

In June, exports of fresh cod, including fillets, dipped 19% to 3,200 tonnes valued at NOK118 million, down 12% or NOK17 million, compared with June last year.

 

Norway exported 39,000 tonnes of frozen cod, including fillets, worth a total of NOK1.4 billion in the first half of 2018. Volume was at the same level as the first half of last year, while the value increased 11% or NOK138 million.

 

In June alone, exports of frozen cod, including fillets, reached 6,200 tonnes, up 21% compared with June last year. Their value amounted to NOK249 million, up 40% or NOK72 million.

 

Norway exported 679 tonnes of king crab in the first half, down 4%. These exports were worth a total of NOK195 million, up 2% or NOK3 million, compared with the first half of 2017.

 

For prawns, export volumes increased 12% to 4,600 tonnes, and so did the export value by 23% or NOK69 million to a total of NOK373 million in the first half.