Norwegian seafood exports grew by NOK 2.7 billion in Q1 2017

Norway has exported 636,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK 24.1 billion in the first quarter of this year. This is an increase of 13 per cent or 2.7 billion compared with the first quarter last year. Volume fell by 7 per cent.

In March, 216,000 tonnes of seafood were exported valued at NOK 8.9 billion. This is an increase of 17 per cent or NOK 1.3 billion compared with March last year. By volume, there was a decline of 14 per cent.

”The growth in value for Norwegian seafood continues. After the first quarter we see that exports of salmon to the EU have grown in value, despite a volume decline of 5 per cent. Salmon exports to Asia and the United States increased by 29 per cent in volume. This contributes overall to the volume and value growth for Norwegian salmon exports in the first quarter. Fresh whole cod, bacalao, herring and mackerel have also contributed to the growth in value of seafood exports”, says Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, director of market insight at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

”Asia will continue to capture a larger share of salmon exports as soon as market access for Norwegian salmon to China is normalized”, says Sigmund Bjørgo, Seafood Council Fisheries Delegate in China.

Up for salmon

Norway exported 233,000 tonnes of salmon with a value of NOK 16.1 billion in the first quarter of this year. This is an increase of 3 per cent in terms of volume, while the value increased by NOK 2.8 billion or 21 per cent compared with the first quarter last year. The average price for fresh whole salmon increased from NOK 56.63 per kg to NOK 65.44 per kg. Poland, France and the United States were the biggest importers of salmon from Norway in the first quarter.

Down for trout

In the first quarter, Norway exported 8,700 tonnes of trout at a value of NOK 680 million. Volume fell by 53 per cent, while the value fell by NOK 217 million or 24 per cent compared with the first quarter last year. Japan, Poland and Belarus were our biggest markets for trout in the first quarter.

Up for herring and mackerel

Norway exported 78,000 tonnes of herring with a value of NOK 894 million in the first quarter. This is an increase in volume of 15 per cent, while in value an increase of NOK 50 million, or 6 per cent. Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus were the main markets for herring in the first quarter.

Norway exported 68,000 tonnes of mackerel with a value of NOK 818 million in the first quarter. This is an increase in volume of 3 per cent, while the value increased by NOK 48 million, or 6 per cent. China, Turkey and South Korea were the biggest importers of mackerel in the first quarter.

Clipfish exports are up

Norway exported 22,300 tonnes of clipfish with a value of NOK 924 million in the first quarter. There is an increase in volume of 20 per cent, while the value increased by NOK 109 million or 13 per cent. Brazil, Portugal and the Dominican Republic were the main markets for clipfish in the first quarter.

Down for salted fish exports

Norway exported 8400 tonnes of salted fish with a value of NOK 364 million in the first quarter. This is a decline in volume of 21 per cent, while the value fell by NOK 69 million or 16 per cent. Portugal, Greece and Spain were our most important markets for salted fish in the first quarter.

Fresh cod exports are up, frozen cod exports are down

Norway exported 33,000 tonnes of fresh cod, including skrei, worth a total of NOK 1.1 billion in the first quarter. This is the same volume as last year, while the value increased by NOK 50 million or 5 per cent. Of this amount, cod accounted for 4,200 tonnes, a decrease of 6 per cent. Norway exported cod worth NOK 153 million in the first quarter. This is a decrease of NOK 9 million or 6 per cent from the same period last year.

Norway exported 20,700 tonnes of frozen cod at a value of NOK 686 million in the first quarter. This is a decrease in volume of 7 per cent, while the value fell by NOK 10 million or 2 per cent from the same period last year.

Red King Crab and prawn exports are down

Norway exported 524 tonnes of red king crab with a value of NOK 141 million in the first quarter. This is a decline in volume of 18 per cent, while by value fell there was a drop of NOK 8 million or 6 per cent.

Prawn saw a decline in volume of 12 per cent to a total of 1,800 tonnes, while value fell by NOK 42 million to a total export value of NOK 140 million or 23 per cent in the first quarter.