Record Norwegian codfish exports in October

Norwegian exports of cod, saithe and haddock reached nearly NOK 1.2 billion in October. An increase of NOK 358 million, or 43 per cent, compared with October 2013. Year to date, exports of cod, saithe and haddock have totalled NOK 8.7 billion, an increase of NOK 1.3 billion, or 18 per cent on the same period in 2013, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

By volume, exports of cod, saithe and haddock were up by 14 per cent or 4,403 tonnes from October 2013. Cod exports account for the bulk of the increase, both as frozen whole cod and clipfish of cod.

The value of Norwegian clipfish export was NOK 508 million in October. Compared with October 2013, this is an increase of NOK 163 million or 47 per cent. 12,436 tonnes of clipfish were exported in October a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.

Norway´s exports of clipfish made from cod were worth NOK 301 million in October, up NOK 109 million from October 2013. Market prices have increased by 21 per cent, or NOK 8.14 per kg in the last year to NOK 46.44 per kg. The value of clipfish from saithe was NOK 157 million, a 32 per cent increase compared to October 2013. Prices also increases by 24 per cent to NOK 34.06 per kg.

”Measured by volume, October was a banner month for sales of clipfish to Portugal. We see that the supermarket chains are increasing stocks to provide enough bacalhau for the Christmas season. If this trend continues we should see 2014 break export records,” says Christian Nordahl, director for Portugal at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Portugal was the largest market for clipfish in October, at NOK 202 million. Measured by volume, the Portuguese market has grown by 76 per cent in the last year. Norway exported clipfish worth NOK 114 million to Brazil in the same period.

Growth for salted fish

Exports of salted fish, both whole and fillets, totalled NOK 73 million in October. This represents an increase in value of NOK 20 million or 37 per cent from October 2013. Export volume totalled 2,212 tonnes, an increase of 314 tonnes. The price increased by 18 per cent.

Portugal was the largest market for salted fish in October, worth NOK 29 million, an increase of NOK 7 million from October 2013. Greece, our second largest market for salted fish in October, increased by NOK 6 million to NOK 12 million. By volume, an increase of 174 tonnes or 95 per cent.

Growth for stockfish

The export value of stockfish was NOK 123 million in October. NOK 23 million more than in October 2013. Export volume increased by 340 tonnes and totalling 1,356 tonnes. Dried fish exports to Nigeria increased in the same period by 521 tonnes and NOK 46 million. The price increased by 35 per cent to NOK 79.03 per kg. Nigeria was the largest market for stockfish in October.

Italian imports of Lofoten cod stockfish were NOK 42 million, a decrease of NOK 14.3 million from October 2013. The average price increased by NOK 1.87 per kg to NOK 114.44 per kg in October.

Robust sales performance in frozen fish

Exports of frozen cod, saithe and haddock totalled NOK 421 million in October, an increase of NOK 129 million or 44 per cent compared with October 2013. The largest importer of frozen codfish in October was China, whose imports have increased by NOK 87 million or 78 per cent from October 2013.

The export value of frozen fillets increased by NOK 28 million to NOK 70 million. Frozen whole cod, saithe and haddock increased by NOK 101 million to a total of NOK 351 million.

Strong growth in fresh produce

The value of fresh cod, saithe and haddock fisheries totalled NOK 117 million in October, an increase of NOK 42.6 million or 57 per cent compared to October 2013.

October total exports of fresh fillets of cod, saithe and haddock were NOK 40 million, an increase of NOK 20 million, or 95 per cent, compared to October 2013.

Fresh whole cod increased in volume from 1,177 tonnes to 1,526 tons, up 30 per cent from last October. In value terms this is an increase of NOK 15 million or 54 per cent. The average price increased by 19 per cent to NOK 27.94 per kg. 

Norway exported 67 tonnes of cod, both whole and fillet, from aquaculture in October. This represents a reduction of 389 tonnes from the same month in 2013.