Norwegian seafood exports exceed NOK 90 billion in 2018

Norway exported 276,000 tonnes of seafood to a value of NOK 9.9 billion in November. Volume fell by 8 per cent, while export value increased by 11 per cent or NOK 990 million compared with November 2017. So far this year, Norway has exported 2.5 million tonnes of seafood to a value of NOK 90.7 billion. Export volumes have increased by 5 per cent, and the value has increased by 5 per cent or NOK 4.3 billion compared with the same period last year.

"The EU is winning the battle for Norwegian salmon, and we are still seeing rising demand in the EU market. In November, nearly 78,000 tonnes of salmon were exported to the EU with a value of NOK 4.5 billion. This represented a volume growth of 4.5 per cent, while growth in value was 12 per cent.

In addition, the export value for mackerel increased sharply in November. While the volume of mackerel fell by almost 10 per cent compared to the same month last year, the price rose by 37 per cent. Total mackerel exports were almost NOK 1.1 billion in November, a w 23 per cent gain on November 2017.

Export prices for frozen whole mackerel in the autumn season 2018 is the highest on record. On average, the export price in October and November has been NOK 16.21 per kg. The previous record was in 2005, when the price reached NOK 15.33 per kg. Expectations of lower global supply of mackerel in 2019 are the reason why the price is spiking" says seafood analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, Paul T. Aandahl.

10% growth in export value for salmon

Norway exported 101,000 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 6.2 billion in November. Export volume is at the same level as last year, while export value increase is 10 per cent or NOK 541 million higher than November 2017. So far this year, Norway has exported 962,000 tonnes of salmon to a value of NOK 62 billion. This represents a volume increase of 6 per cent, while export value increased by 5 per cent or NOK 3 billion compared to the same period last year. The average price for whole fresh salmon in November was NOK 56.24 per kg against NOK 50.49 per kg in November 2017. Poland and France were the largest salmon markets in November.

"Norway continues to take market share in the EU in November, while we see declines in other regions. An increasing proportion of EU consumption is seafood that undergoes processing in another market than that in which consumption takes place. This is the case in emerging markets, where the Netherlands and Poland are the ones that have seen the most significant increases in November" says seafood analyst Paul T Aandahl.

"Despite economic downturns and rising salmon prices, Italy is still experiencing a salmon boom. From 2010 to 2017, the value of direct exports of salmon increased by 257 per cent, and growth continues to rise by 20 per cent so far this year. The main reason is a strong trend towards consuming sushi, as well as on the commercial side, a successful collaboration between seafood producers and the Norwegian Seafood Council, both on sales and campaigns" says Trym Eidem Gundersen.

Trout exports remain stable

Norway exported 5,300 tonnes of trout to a value of NOK 322 million in November. This is a volume decline of 2 per cent, while the value remains at the same level as November 2017. So far this year, Norway has exported 41,500 tonnes of trout with a value of NOK 2.7 billion. This is a volume increase of 18 per cent and a value increase of 5 per cent or NOK 130 million from the same period last year. Belarus and the United States were the largest export markets for Norwegian trout in November

Increases for fresh and frozen codfish

Norway exported 2,600 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillet, for NOK 109 million in November. This is a volume increase of 3 per cent and a value increase of 1 per cent or NOK 1 million from November last year. Denmark and Sweden were the largest markets for fresh cod in November. So far this year, Norway has exported 61,500 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillet, for NOK 2.2 billion. This is a volume decline of 5 per cent and a value increase of 2 per cent or NOK 51 million compared to the same period last year.

Norway exported 6,600 tonnes of frozen cod, including fillet, worth NOK 279 million in November. The volume fell by 8 per cent while the value increased by 16 per cent or NOK 39 million from November last year. China and the UK were the largest markets for frozen cod in November. So far this year, Norway has exported 64,000 tonnes of frozen cod, including fillet, for 2.4 billion. This represents a volume decline of 15 per cent, while export value remains at the same level as last year.

"Both fresh and frozen whole cod have seen price growth so far this year. In addition, we see in recent months that prices for fresh and frozen cod are starting to improve, and they begin to approach the levels of last year. This is gratifying after a couple of years of falling prices" says seafood analyst Ingrid Kristine Pettersen.

This autumn, fresh sei cod has been launched in Spain, and a good response is reported from this export market, but lower catches have made it difficult to meet demand. Improvement in the traditional codfish markets, combined with the ability to build a new market for sei, such as freshly prepared sei in Spain, may well contribute to further price growth for sei" said Bjørn-Erik Stabell, fisheries delegate for the Spanish market.

Growth for clipfish, but salted fish exports decline in November

Norway exported 9,600 tonnes of whole clipfish worth NOK 482 million in November. This is a volume increase of 6 per cent, and a value increase of 12 per cent or NOK 53 million in November last year. So far this year, Norway has exported 85,000 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 4 billion. This is a volume increase of 3 per cent and a value increase of 5 per cent or NOK 204 million compared with the same period last year.

"Now we are entering the main season for clipfish in Portugal - Christmas. There has been a spectacular rise in prices for codfish exports this year. However, price growth has not been fully exposed to consumers. On average, export prices have increased by 9 per cent in euro to € 7.58 per kg, while according to our panel data, prices to consumers in Portugal remain at the same level as last year and are selling on average at € 8 per kg. The margin between export price and retail price has clearly decreased in recent years. The reason is that clipfish is such an important product to attract customers that supermarket chains keep prices down in order to secure their market share. This is a development that can be hard to sustain over time" says Ingrid Kristine Pettersen.

Norway exported 1,300 tonnes of salted fish to a value of NOK 61 million in November. There is a volume decline of 17 per cent and a value reduction of 15 percent or NOK 11 million from November last year. Italy and Portugal were the largest salted fish markets in November. So far this year, Norway has exported 28,000 tonnes of salted fish for NOK 1.4 billion. This is a volume increase of 5 per cent, a value increase of 15 per cent or NOK 186 million from the same period last year.

Herring exports decrease by 9%

Norway exported 45,000 tonnes of herring worth NOK 425 million in November. This is a volume decline of 26 per cent and a decrease of 9 per cent or NOK 41 million in export value compared with November 2017. Poland and Ukraine were the largest markets for herring in November.

So far this year, Norway has exported 262,000 tonnes of herring for NOK 2.4 billion. This is a volume increase of 3 per cent, and a decline of 5 per cent or NOK 129 million from the same period last year.

Significant price increase for mackerel

Norway exported 66,000 tonnes of mackerel to a value of NOK 1.1 billion in November. This is a volume decline of 10 per cent and a value increase of 23 per cent or NOK 201 million from November 2017. In November, Japan and China have been the largest markets for mackerel. So far this year, Norway has exported 236,000 tonnes of mackerel for NOK 3.5 billion. This is a 24 per cent volume decline, and a decline of 8 per cent or NOK 300 million in export value compared to the same period last year.

"In the autumn of 2018, we have had an export share in high-priced markets of 64 per cent, compared to 60 per cent last autumn. For example, Japan has increased its share of Norwegian mackerel exports from 26 per cent last autumn to 34 per cent this fall this year. Total price inflation more than compensates for the volume decline in November" says Paul T Aandahl.

Shellfish exports grow, by volume and by value

198 tonnes of king crab with a value of NOK 58 million were exported in November. This is an increase of 43 per cent, while the value increased by 45 per cent or NOK 18 million. South Korea and France are the largest recipients in November. So far this year, 1,900 tonnes of king crab have been exported to a value of NOK 548 million. This is an increase of 12 per cent by volume, while the export value increased by 19 per cent or NOK 88 million.

"It is live king crab who has been the source of both volume and value increases in King Crab exports. So far this year, live king crab has accounted for 72 per cent of the volume and 68 per cent of the value.

There have been good snow crab catches after the conservation period and with significantly higher prices and good demand for Norwegian snow crabs due to reduced catches in Canada. 254 tonnes of snow crab were exported in November with a total value of NOK 29 million. The United States is the largest market in November with 76 per cent of the snow crab exports" says Josefine Voraa, Advisor with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Norway exported 1,100 tonnes of prawns worth NOK 91 million in November. This is an increase of 13 per cent in volume, while the export value increased by 24 per cent or NOK 18 million. Sweden and the UK were the main prawn markets in November. So far this year, 10,100 tonnes of prawns have been exported to a value of NOK 775 million. This is a volume increase of 20 per cent and a value increase of 22 per cent or NOK 140 million.