Norwegian seafood exports set new record – Fishupdate.com

THE value of Norwegian seafood exports have exceeded previous records set for both the month of May, and the period from January to May this year.

At the end of May, the export value of Norwegian Seafood was NOK 15.1 billion.

According to figures from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC), this represents an increase of nearly NOK 100 million in comparison with the same period last year.

In May, exports amounted to NOK 2.8 billion, which is an increase of NOK 163 million, or 6%, compared with May 2007.

“This,” says the NSEC, “sets an export record for the period January to May and for May month alone.”

”In addition to the growth in salmon and trout exports, the increase in herring exports made May into a new record month for seafood exports,” states Egil Sundheim, director of market information and market access at the Norwegian Seafood Export Council.

“There is strong demand in our local markets.

“Russia, in particular, has contributed to the growth, leading to another increase on the record year 2007.”

In May, Norway exported salmon worth NOK 1.5 billion, which represents an increase of 5.5% or NOK 80 million.

The greatest increase is in salmon exports to Poland and France.

France is the largest receiver of salmon, with a value of NOK 265 million. So far this year, salmon exports have been worth NOK 6.9 billion, a reduction of 2.2%.

Trout worth NOK 157 million was exported in April, representing an increase of 69% or NOK 64 million.

Russia is the largest recipient, with a value of NOK 64 million, which is an increase in May of nearly 80%. Japan, the Ukraine and China have also increased their imports of Norwegian trout.

So far this year, Norway has exported trout for NOK 676 million, an increase of 30%.

Herring exports increased by NOK 58 million, or 74%, to a value of NOK 137 million in May. Russia was the largest purchaser of herring, with a value of NOK 43 million.

So far this year, herring exports have been worth NOK 1.5 billion, an increase of 33%.

In May, stockfish exports were reduced by 20% to a value of NOK 155 million.

So far this year, the value of stockfish exports has fallen by NOK 244 million, to slightly above NOK 1 billion. The reduction was greatest in Portugal, by NOK 122 million, followed by Brazil, with NOK 85 million.

In May, seafood exports to Russia increased by 64% to NOK 260 million.

The increase in Ukraine amounted to 145%. This is caused by increased exports of salmon, trout and herring.

Exports to the EU fell in May by 3% to NOK 1.9 billion.

So far this year, seafood exports to EU have amounted to NOK 9.4 billion.

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