“The growth in seafood exports is first and foremost being driven by exports of Norwegian salmon,” comments Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information with the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. “An increase in the volume of Norwegian salmon exports combined with higher prices has seen the value of exports of Norwegian salmon in August increase by almost 40% compared to August last year. However, the picture for the seafood industry as a whole is not entirely positive, with the Norwegian salted fish industry in particular struggling to overcome a substantial fall in prices.”
Records for Norwegian salmon and Norwegian Fjord Trout
The value of Norwegian salmon exports in august totalled NOK 1.9 billion. Exports for the year to date total NOK 14.7 billion, up by NOK 3.6 billion compared to the same period last year. Norwegian Fjord Trout also had a strong August with exports totalling NOK 153 million, an increase of 17%. Exports of Norwegian Fjord Trout this year to date total NOK 1.3 billion, an increase of NOK 204 million.
France and Poland are the biggest importers of Norwegian salmon. Exports to the USA this year to date have increased by 287% to a value of NOK 806 million, positioning the USA as the 6th biggest market for Norwegian salmon. This growth is attributable to demand for fresh and frozen Norwegian salmon fillets. The biggest export markets for Norwegian Fjord Trout are Russia and Japan.
Doubling in exports of herring and mackerel
In August, exports of herring increased in value by NOK 34 million to a total of NOK 68 million. This year to date, exports have totalled NOK 2.3 billion, up by NOK 506 million compared to the same period last year. Exports of mackerel in August increased by no less than 125% to a total value of NOK 39 million. For the year to date, exports of mackerel total NOK 716 million, an increase of 83%.
Russia and Ukraine are the biggest export markets for herring from Norway, while exports to Germany have increased by NOK 140 million or 157% to a total value of NOK 230 million. The biggest export markets for mackerel from Norway are Russia and Japan. Exports to South Korea, the 3rd biggest market, increased dramatically in value to NOK 76 million from only NOK 4.6 million for the same period last year.
More salted fish at lower prices
Exports of salted cod increased in value by 70% to NOK 55 million, with the volume of exports up by an impressive 127% or 959 tonnes to a total of 1,714 tonnes. Exports of salted fish totalled 21,000 tonnes at the end of August, still some 8,400 tonnes lower than in the same period last year. The export price was NOK 33.69, compared to NOK 45.70 for the same period last ye
