“Cod had a good month in both the fresh and frozen fillet segments, although salted fish exports to Portugal continued to decline,” says market analyst Ove Johansen from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. “One small bright spot is that salted fish is enjoying growth in other markets, such as Spain.”
Clipfish, salted fish and stockfish
Exports of salted fish in May totalled NOK 69 million. This is a reduction of NOK 97 million compared to May last year. The volume of exports fell by 41%, from 3 800 tonnes to 2 250 tonnes. Portugal, the biggest market for salted fish, fell in value from NOK 120 million to NOK 25 million. Exports to Spain increased in value by 12.5% to NOK 18.5 million and to the Netherlands by 50%, from NOK 12 million to NOK 18 million.
The volume of cod clipfish exports remained steady, although lower prices per kilo meant a decline in the value of exports of 27%. In May this year, exports to Portugal fell from NOK 65 million to NOK 45 million compared to the same period last year, while exports to Brazil fell from NOK 16.6 million to NOK 12.4 million. In May, exports of saithe clipfish increased by over 20%, from NOK 50 million to NOK 60 million. This is attributable to an increase in price of 14% and an increase in volume of 6%. Africa and the Dominican Republic accounted for the increase while Brazil, our main market, showed a decline in value of 16%.
The total value of exports of stockfish in May increased by almost 24%, from NOK 16.5 million to NOK 20.4 million. Increases in the volume of exports of a number of stockfish products, together with good prices for some products such as Finnmark stockfish to Nigeria, have contributed to the growth in value.
Increase in exports of fresh fish
Exports of fresh whole groundfish increased by NOK 22 million in May compared to the same month last year. This is an increase of 35%. Cod accounted for much of the increase, with exports up by NOK 16 million. Fresh whole haddock also had a good month, with exports up by NOK 4.3 million.
Exports of fresh fillets also increased in value by NOK 5.5 million. Fresh cod fillets increased by NOK 7.3 million, while fresh saithe fillets showed a decline of NOK 1.9 million compared to May last year.
Increase in frozen fillets but reduction in frozen whole fish
May saw an increase in exports of frozen fillets by NOK 3.7 million to a total of NOK 99.5 million. Cod fillets increased by NOK 8.4 million and haddock fillets by NOK 5 million. However, exports of frozen saithe fillets showed a decline of NOK 9.4 million, with a fall in exports of block fillets in particular. The UK is by far the largest market for frozen groundfish fillets and showed a total increase in May of NOK 4.2 million to NOK 38.5 million. However, France accounted for the biggest increase, with exports of fresh fillets growing by NOK 8.2 million to a total of NOK 22.8 million.
Exports of frozen whole groundfish declined in May by a total of NOK 30 million compared with May 2008. Cod fell by NOK 11.2 million, haddock by NOK 13.1 million and saithe by NOK 6 million. China is the biggest importer of frozen whole cod, saithe and haddock.
Aquaculture enjoying growth
Exports of whole farmed cod in May totalled NOK 8.6 million. This is an increase of NOK 2.7 million compared to the same period last year. The volume of exports increased from 164 tonnes in May last year to 297 tonnes in May this year. Exports of fillets of farmed cod showed a fall in value due to a drop in the price per kilo. The biggest market for farmed cod is Denmark.
