Norwegian seafood exports flying high

THE surge in Norwegian seafood exports shows no sign of letting up, with sales in July totalling 4.9-billion Norwegian kroners (NOK) – a rise of eight per cent on July 2013. And, again, farmed salmon is the main driver.
It means seafood exports so far this year amount to NOK 37.6 billion, an increase of NOK 5.7 billion, or 18 per cent, compared with the same period last year.
The Norwegian Seafood Council said an increase in the amount of exported salmon and the continued high price of salmon is the main reason for the increased export value of Norwegian seafood last month.
Christian Chramer, communications director at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said the figures were helped by the continued strong demand for Norwegian salmon globally.
Salmon exports earned NOK 3.6 billion in July, an increase of NOK 358 million, or 11 per cent, compared with July last year.
This year’s salmon exports so far total 25 billion, an increase of 4.5 billion, or 22 per cent, compared with the same period last year.
The average price for whole fresh Norwegian salmon in July was NOK 40.60 million against NOK 44.06 million in July 2013. As in the previous month, Poland and France are the largest buyers of salmon from Norway.
Trout exports in July totalled NOK 189 million, a decrease of 24 million, or 11 per cent. So far this year, exports of trout amount to NOK 1.4 billion, an increase of NOK 194 million, or 16 per cent, compared to the same period in 2013. The main buyers of trout are Norway, Russia and Japan.
Exports of herring fell by NOK 5 million, or four per cent, in July for a total value of NOK 126 million. So far this year, exports of herring are NOK 1.4 billion, a decrease of NOK 104 million compared to 2013.
Russia and Germany represent the largest markets for herring. Mackerel fell in July by NOK 20 million to NOK 55 million.
So far this year, mackerel exports increased by 243 million to a total of NOK 957 million. For mackerel, China and Nigeria are the most important markets.