According to the information available exports of herring totalled NOK 2.1 billion, an increase of NOK 466 million or 28 percent compared to the first half-year of 2008. It is also said that during the same period exports of capelin totalled NOK 545 million, an increase of 329 percent. Figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council states never before has the first half-year value of exports of herring and capelin been higher than in 2009.
The council also told that the exports of pelagic fish in the first half-year of 2009 totalled NOK 3.4 billion, an increase of 56 percent compared to the same period last year. Senior analyst Kristin Lien from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council opined that the pelagic sector has never enjoyed higher first half-year exports than in 2009 measured in present-day prices.
He also told that pelagic fish exports are no less than NOK 500 million up on the previous best year of 2001. This is attributable to higher quotas and good market prices for pelagic products. Exports of pelagic fish in June alone totalled NOK 322 million, up 29 percent compared to June 2008.
It is observed that Russia was the biggest market with 84,000 tonnes, up by 11,000 tonnes compared to the same period in 2008. Nigeria was the second biggest market with 77,000 tonnes, down by 8,000 tonnes, while Ukraine in third place with 44,000 tonnes was down by only 2,000 tonnes. A total of 85,000 tonnes of frozen herring fillet products was exported in the first half-year of 2009, an increase of 15,000 tonnes compared to the same period last year.
