Norwegian seafood exports decline in April, but total export value for 2017 has increased

Norway exported 151,000 tonnes of seafood with a value of NOK 6.8 billion in April. Volumes were down by 23 per cent and export values were down by 7 per cent or NOK 529 million compared with April 2016. So far this year, Norway has exported 886,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK 31 billion. Year to date export volumes are at the same level as last year, while the year to date value of Norwegian seafood exports has increased by NOK 2.3 billion or 8 per cent.

"Despite reduced exports in April, Norway has so far this year exported the same amount of seafood as in the same period in 2016. The value of Norwegian seafood exports has increased by 8 per cent to NOK 31 billion for the same period. The decline in seafood exports in April is mainly due to a shift in Easter, which again explains some of the decline in export volumes for our important seafood products such as salmon and clipfish ”, says Director of Market Insight Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Reduced volumes, but export value unchanged for salmon

Norway exported 60,000 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 4.9 billion in April. The reduction in the volume of exports to the EU was 9,400 tonnes, while the total decrease in volume was 8,800 tonnes or 11 per cent. The value of Norwegian salmon exports are at the same level as April 2016. So far this year, Norway has exported 305,000 tonnes of salmon with a total value of NOK 21 billion.

While the average price for fresh whole salmon was NOK 57.11 per kg in February 2016, it rose to NOK 63.59 per kg in April 2017. Poland, France and the United States were the largest export markets for salmon from Norway in April.

”Strong price growth compared with the same period last year has led to a value added of NOK 2.7 billion or 15 per cent for Norwegian salmon exports so far this year. A trend we have seen over time is that exports to the EU are reduced, while exports to overseas markets have increased” said Analyst Paul Aandahl with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Volume and value decline for trout

In April, Norway exported 2,480 tonnes of trout worth NOK 199 million. Volume fell by 5,400 tonnes or 69 per cent, while the value of trout exports fell by NOK 204 million or 51 per cent, compared with April last year. So far this year, Norway has exported 11,100 tonnes of trout worth NOK 874 million. Japan, Belarus and the United States were the largest trout export markets in April.

Spain, Germany and Sweden have been the largest consumer markets for Norwegian cod so far this year

Norway exported 10,800 tonnes of fresh cod, including Skrei, worth NOK 341 million in April. By value this represents an increase of NOK 24 million or 8 per cent and a volume increase of 625 tonnes or 6 per cent compared with April 2016.

Norway exported 881 tonnes of quality mark skrei in April. This is an increase of 203 tonnes compared to April last year. The average price for skrei fell slightly from NOK 33.48 per kg in April 2016 to NOK 32.89 per kg in April this year. The value of skrei exports increased by 28 per cent to NOK 29 million from April 2016.

During the Skrei season, Norway has exported 5,000 tonnes of skrei worth NOK 181 million. This is the same level for the same period in 2016 measured by volume, but a slight decline of 1.8 per cent when measured by export value. Spain, Germany and Sweden were the largest consumer markets for skrei this year. Germany and Sweden were the least price sensitive markets.

As the skrei season came to a close, the price difference between whole quality marked skrei and other fresh cod was NOK 6,59 per kg.

”There is no doubt that the quality mark Skrei has been a success in Spain, and that quality has been very good this year. The skrei season is something that Spaniards anticipate and look forward to. Since much of the fish passes through transit countries like Denmark, the export figures alone do not tell us if there has been an increase in skrei sales to Spain. However, our local sources have suggested that there has been an increase in skrei in the Spanish market this season”, said Hildegunn Fure Osmundsvåg, with the Norwegian Seafood Council in Spain,.

In April, Norway exported 5,300 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 171 million. This is a decrease in volume of 1,300 tonnes or 19 per cent, while the value fell by NOK 51 million or 23 per cent from April last year. So far this year, Norway has exported 26,000 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 856 million.

Clipfish exports down in April, despite year to date growth

Norway exported 4,600 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 203 million in April. This represented a decrease in volume of 595 tonnes or 11 per cent, and a decrease of NOK 51 million or 20 per cent in export value compared to April 2016. So far this year, export volumes have increased by 3,200 tonnes or 13 per cent to a total of 26,900 tonnes, while export value has increased by NOK 54 million or 5 per cent to total NOK 1.1 billion compared to the same period last year.

Volume and value declines for salted fish

In April, Norway exported 4,400 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 202 million. Export volume fell by 1,500 tonnes or 26 per cent and export value fell by NOK 46 million or 18 per cent compared to April last year. Portugal, Spain and Italy were the main export markets for salted fish in April.

Low season for herring and mackerel

Norway exported 9,800 tonnes of herring worth NOK 104 million in April. This is an increase in volume of 1,300 tonnes or 16 per cent, while export value was down by NOK 19 million or 15 per cent from April 2016. Egypt, Belarus and Lithuania were the most important markets for herring in April.

In April, Norway exported 10,500 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 135 million. Volume was reduced by 2,500 tonnes or 19 per cent, while export value fell by NOK 22 million or 14 per cent compared with April 2016. China, Vietnam and Belarus were the largest recipient of mackerel in April.

So far this year, Norway has exported herring and mackerel worth a total of NOK 2.6 billion, an increase of 9 per cent from the same period last year.

King crab export values are unchanged, whilst prawn exports have declined

Norway exported 46 tonnes of king crab worth a total of NOK 14 million in April. This is a decrease in volume of 15 tonnes or 24 per cent, while export value remains at the same level as April last year.

Norway exported 646 tonnes of prawn worth NOK 44 million kroner in April. Volumes were down by 86 tonnes or 12 per cent and export value saw a decline of NOK 19 million or 30 per cent year-on-year.