Cod the star of Norwegian exports

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COD has become the new star in Norway’s seafood export performance so far this year. During the first four months of 2018, the country exported 927,000 tonnes of seafood of all types, with an export value of 31.5 billion kroners.
The volume is the same as last year, but the value is up by two per cent.
April was the best performing month so far this year, with earnings up 12 per cent to NOK 847 million, despite a four per cent fall in volume.
Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said: ‘High cod and haddock prices continue to help boost the value of Norwegian seafood.
‘Despite a season of good weather, lower quotas have led to lower catches this year. At the same time, more fresh whole skrei has been exported this year at elevated prices.
‘This means that we have achieved an export record for skrei, with a value of almost NOK 200 million.
‘These are the fruits of long-term work between several actors to establish the stage for skrei as a high quality product in the markets.’
Hildegunn Fure Osmundsvåg, Spanish manager with the Norwegian Seafood Council, added: ‘Importers report a good market, which is reflected in a five per cent increase in volume and an 18 per cent jump in value between 2017 and 2018 for fresh whole cod.
‘In Spain, skrei is regarded as the best Norwegian cod, almost like a pata negra (premium ham), and it is highly anticipated every year. The supermarkets in Spain do a good job of marketing it in their catalogues and via other media.’
There were gains for both fresh and frozen cod. A total of 42,000 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillets, were exported, with a value of NOK 1.5 billion, in the first four months of this year, up three per cent in value.
During the same period, 27,000 tonnes of frozen cod were exported, with a 10 per cent rise in value to NOK 950 million.
Coldwater prawn exports increased in volume by 368 tonnes, or 15 per cent, to a total 2,800 tonnes, while the export value increased by NOK 50 million, or 28 per cent, to a total of NOK 232 million.

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