Norway exported seafood worth NOK 6.6 billion in July, an increase of 15 per cent, or NOK 882 million, compared with July 2015. So far this year, exports have totaled NOK 49.2 billion – up 24 per cent, or NOK 9.5 billion, compared to the same period in 2015.
“July proved to be a good summer month for Norwegian seafood sales abroad. Exports of salmon and trout totaled NOK 5.1 billion, an increase of 28 per cent over last July. The higher salmon prices were the result of strong demand coupled with lower volumes. Although exports of clipfish declined in July, the month did reflect good prices for both fresh and frozen cod,” said Jan Ståle Lauritzen of the Tromsø-headquartered Norwegian Seafood Council.
Salmon and Trout Sales Rise
Salmon exports amounted to NOK 4.8 billion in July, reflecting an increase of 25 per cent, or NOK 965 million, compared to July of 2015. So far this year, salmon sales abroad have fetched NOK 33 billion, an increase of 27 percent, or NOK 7 billion. The average market price for whole fresh salmon in July was NOK 66.40 per kg, compared with NOK 43.96 per kg in July 2015. Poland and France were the biggest buyers of Norwegian salmon in July.
In July, trout exports generated NOK 342 million, an increase of 69 per cent, or NOK 140 million, from July of 2015. So far this year, exports of trout have brought in NOK 2.3 billion. This is a dramatic rise of 97 per cent, or NOK 1.1 billion, compared with the same period in 2015. Belarus and Japan were the biggest markets for Norwegian trout last month.
Gains for Both Frozen and Fresh Cod
In July, exports of fresh cod, including fillets, amounted to NOK 72 million. This represents an increase of 9 per cent, or NOK 6 million, compared with July of 2015.
Year-to-date exports of fresh cod, including fillets, have totaled NOK 1.7 billion. This is a rise of 15 per cent, or NOK 221 million, compared with the same period last year.
Norway exported frozen cod, including fillets, worth NOK 208 million in July – up 16 per cent, or NOK 29 million, compared with July of 2015. So far this year frozen cod exports, including fillets, have fetched NOK 1.5 billion. That amounts to a gain of 32 per cent, or NOK 392 million, over the same period last year.
Clipfish Down, Salted Fish Up
In July, exports of clipfish were worth NOK 221 million, a decrease of 11 per cent, or NOK 27 million, compared with July 2015. Thus far this year, clipfish exports have generated NOK 1.9 billion in receipts. This represents a decline of 12 per cent, or NOK 258 million, compared with the same period last year.
In July, exports of salted fish fetched NOK 41 million, which was an increase of 13 per cent, or NOK 5 million. So far in 2016, exports of salted fish have reached a total value of NOK 937 million – up 6 per cent, or NOK 49 million, compared with the same period last year.
Herring Up, Mackerel Down
In July, exports of herring were worth NOK 204 million – up 7 per cent, or NOK 14 million, compared with last July. Year-to-date herring exports have generated NOK 1.7 billion. This is an increase of 48 per cent, or NOK 538 million, compared with the same period in 2015. Germany and Poland were the largest markets for Norwegian herring last month.
Solid Half-Year Results
The Norwegian seafood industry recorded robust growth of 25 percent during the first half of the year, reported Geir Håvard Hanssen, director of communications at the Norwegian Seafood Council. Exports fetched NOK 42.6 billion, which was up NOK 8.6 billion over the first six months of 2015.
Hanssen commented: “The price of salmon is grabbing the most headlines, but the entire seafood industry has had a fantastic first six months. These good results show that there is great demand and that we are achieving good prices for Norwegian seafood. A favorable foreign currency situation is, of course, contributing positively.”
NOK 27.9 billion worth of salmon was exported during the first six months, an increase of 28 per cent, or NOK 6.2 billion, when measured against the first half of 2015. The average price for fresh whole Norwegian salmon in June was NOK 65.43 per kg, versus NOK 40.85 per kg in June of 2015.
“Increased demand for salmon globally in combination with reduced export volume from Norway has driven the price upwards. The EU market has kept its share of Norwegian exports, while exports to the US have increased and are now responsible for 6 per cent of our salmon exports,” said Paul T. Aandahl, an analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The nation exported trout worth NOK 1.9 billion in the first six months – up a whopping of 103 per cent, or NOK 978 million, compared with the first six months of last year.
Fresh cod worth NOK 1.6 billion, including fillets, was exported during the first six months. This is an increase of 16 per cent, or NOK 218 million, compared with the first six months of 2015. Frozen cod worth NOK 1.3 billion, including fillets, was exported in the first six months. This is an increase of 40 per cent or NOK 364 million compared with the first six months of last year.
“Norway exported cod and haddock worth a combined total of more than NOK 5.8 billion in the first six months of 2016, which is a record for both species. Fresh and frozen products in particular are ramping up, but with good prices in almost all product categories, we’re ending up with the best six months ever for the whole cod category,” said Ørjan Olsen, a Norwegian Seafood Council analyst.
NOK 1.6 billion worth of clipfish was exported during the first six months. This is a decrease of 12 per cent, or NOK 229 million, compared with the first six months of 2015. NOK 898 million of salted fish was exported in the first six months – a rise of 6 per cent.
Norway exported herring worth NOK 1.4 billion in the first half of the year. This is an increase of 52 per cent or NOK 476 million compared with the first six months of 2015. Exports of mackerel fetched NOK 1.2 billion in the first six months, which is an increase of 37 per cent.
“Price and volume growth for both herring and mackerel have increased the export value for pelagic fish in the first six months of 2016. The largest growth markets for herring so far this year have been Poland and Germany, while Japan and Ghana are the markets which have increased the most for mackerel,” said Aandahl.
