Norwegian seafood exports worth NOK 21.3 billion in Q1 2016

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 21.3 billion in Q1 2016. An increase of 22 per cent or NOK 3.8 billion compared with Q1 2015. For the month of March alone, seafood exports were worth NOK 7.4 billion. This is an increase of 14 per cent or NOK 937 million compared with March 2015.

”Q1 went well for most sectors of the seafood industry, but salmon has been the strongest contributor to the growth in value in the first quarter, with an increase of NOK 2.3 billion in sales of salmon products compared with the first quarter of 2015. It is also gratifying to see that the European market for fresh cod is growing and that this has helped us achieve good prices for skrei throughout the first quarter. Prawn and shellfish also saw a doubling of exports compared with the first quarter of 2015. This positive development is due to higher prices achieved at market, coupled with increased demand, which has been helped by a favourable currency situation for the Norwegian krone”, says Geir Håvard Hanssen, Director of Communications at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Salmon and trout exports improve

Salmon exports totalled NOK 13.4 billion in Q1. An increase of 21 per cent, or NOK 2.3 billion compared with the first quarter of 2015. March exports of salmon were worth NOK 4.9 billion. An increase of 18 per cent or NOK 768 million from March last year. The average price in March for whole fresh Norwegian salmon was NOK 59.11 per kg compared with NOK 41.46 per kg in March 2015. Poland and France were the biggest buyers of salmon from Norway in Q1 2016.

Norway exported trout to a value of NOK 906 million during the first quarter. This is an increase of 99 per cent or NOK 450 million from Q1 2015. Trout exports reached NOK 318 million in March. An increase of 76 per cent or NOK 138 million compared to March 2015. The biggest buyers of trout from Norway in the first quarter were Belarus and Poland.

Increases in fresh and frozen cod exports

Exports of fresh cod, including fillets, were worth NOK 1.1 billion in Q1 2016. This is an increase of 22 per cent or NOK 192 million compared to Q1 2015. In March, exports of fresh cod, including fillets, were worth NOK 410 million. This is a growth of 9 per cent or NOK 35 million compared with March 2015.

Exports of frozen cod, including fillets, amounted to NOK 696 million in Q1. This is an increase of 59 per cent or NOK 257 million compared with the first quarter of 2015. In March, exports of frozen cod, including fillets, were worth NOK 166 million, an increase of 14 per cent or NOK 20 million compared with March 2015.

Clipfish exports are down, but salted fish exports increase

Exports of clipfish were worth NOK 815 million in Q1 2016. A decline of 17 per cent or NOK 165 million compared with Q1 2015. In March, exports of clipfish totalled NOK 236 million, a decrease of 9 per cent or NOK 24 million from March 2015.

Exports of salted fish reached an exported value of NOK 443 million in Q1 2016. An increase of 30 per cent or NOK 103 million compared with Q1 2015. In March, exports of salted fish reached NOK 294 million. This is a significant increase of 44 per cent or NOK 90 million compared with March 2015.

Growth for both herring and mackerel

Herring exports reached NOK 862 million in Q1. An increase of 74 per cent or NOK 367 million compared with Q1 2015. In March, exports of herring were worth NOK 138 million. This is an increase of 14 per cent or NOK 17 million compared with March last year. Germany and Poland remained the largest markets for herring in the first quarter.

Mackerel exports were worth NOK 777 million in Q1. This is an increase of 44 per cent or NOK 236 million compared with the first quarter of 2015. In March, exports of mackerel were worth NOK 174 million. An increase of 54 per cent or NOK 61 million from March last year. Japan and Nigeria are the main markets for mackerel in the first quarter.