The latest figure from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) shows that that vale of export of Norwegian seafood during the first half-year of 2008 totalled NOK 17.8 billion, an increase of NOK 57 million from 2007. According to NSEC the biggest rises have been in the markets in Poland, Russia, Nigeria and Ukraine. Norwegian Salmon, Norwegian Fjord Trout and herring products account for much of the increase.
Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information and market access with the Norwegian Seafood Export Council, told that there was decline in demand for clipfish in Portugal as a result of weakening purchasing power, this is countered by positive economic developments in Russia that are contributing to increased demand for Norwegian Salmon and Norwegian Fjord Trout. He added that there has been a strong increase in exports of herring to Nigeria.
However, there is a fall in value of Norwegian Salmon exports. During the first half-year of 2008, exports of Norwegian Salmon totalled NOK 8.4 billion, down NOK 187 million compared to the same period in 2007. According to NSEC the decline is due primarily to a reduction in price. On the contrary, the export of herring increases to new record. In the
first half-year of 2008 saw total exports of herring valued at NOK 1.7 billion, an increase of NOK 334 million or 25 per cent.
A slight decline in exports of salted fish also noticed, down in total by NOK 28 million to a value of just over NOK 1 billion. Egil Ove Sundheim commented that with this first half-year result, Norway has maintained its position as one of the world’s leading seafood exporters.
