Norway exported seafood worth NOK 74.5 billion in 2015, approximately 40 per cent of which was distributed in frozen form. Total sales were up NOK 5.8 billion, or 8 per cent more than the previous record year of 2014.
“In a year with trade restrictions in several markets and an import embargo in Russia, the result was better than expected. A weak Norwegian krone, combined with good demand for fresh products in particular, contributed to a new export record,” said Terje E. Martinussen, managing director of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Exports to the European Union reached NOK 50 billion for the first time, as a growth rate of 17 per cent was achieved in 2015. The EU absorbed 67 per cent of Norway’s total seafood exports, and it is decidedly the most important regional market for the nation’s seafood industry.
“The growth in the EU and the United States in recent years also shows the importance of government and industry working well together in order to obtain access to markets. Good trade agreements are absolutely critical in order to achieve growth in new markets in the future,” said Martinussen.
The sea farming of salmon, the biggest marine product export from Norway, takes place in cages as seen here at Loppa in Finnmark County.
Record for Salmon, Trout and Cod
Norway exported salmon and trout worth NOK 50 billion in 2015. This is a record export value, and an increase of more than 8 per cent or NOK 3.9 billion over 2014 figures.
Cod exports hit NOK 13 billion during the same period, up 8 percent. This is also a record, even though reduced quotas saw a 13 percent volume decline in codfish sales.
Approximately NOK 35.2 billion worth of Norwegian salmon was exported to the European Union, up by 15 per cent over 2014. Measured in volume, shipments amounted to 793,000 tons, an increase of 74,000 tons, or 10 per cent, compared with 2014.
A year of being barred from Russia has resulted in an increase of the export share of salmon to the EU. Approximately 77 per cent of all Norwegian salmon exports, measured in product weight, went to the neighboring markets in the European Union last year. In 2014, the corresponding share was 72 per cent, and in 2013 it was 68 per cent.
The value of record exports of codfish from Norway during 2015 was NOK 13 billion.Measured in product weight, the most important salmon markets in 2015 were Poland and France. The largest growth market was the United Kingdom, measured in absolute volume, with an increased volume of 14,279 tons, or 24 per cent, compared with 2014.
The value of salmon exports to Eastern Europe fell by 64 per cent last year to NOK 1.3 billion, compared with 2014. The reason for the decline was mainly the Russian import embargo and reduced sales to the Ukrainian market. Belarus buys the most Norwegian salmon in Eastern Europe, measured in value. The largest growth market is Turkey, worth some NOK 341 million.
Exports to USA and Asia Increase
In 2015, NOK 2.5 billion worth of salmon was exported to the United States. This is a growth of NOK 626 million, or 33 per cent, compared with 2014. Measured in product weight, 37,657 tons were shipped to the USA, corresponding to a growth of 9,681 tons, or 35 per cent, compared with 2014.
Norway exported salmon worth NOK 7.5 billion to Asia last year. This was an increase of 15 per cent from the previous year. Measured by product weight, shipments to Asia increased by 7 per cent, or 10,226 tons, with the largest growth in value rung up in Japan and South Korea.
Clipfish Sales Hit NOK 4 Billion
Clipfish exports to all markets were worth NOK 4 billion, and fresh codfish sales generated 2.8 billion in sales during 2015.
“Norway has never previously exported such high values of clipfish and fresh codfish products,” said Martinussen. “The industry’s increased focus on quality, targeted marketing and a favorable exchange rate for the Norwegian krone led to good demand for these products.”
Lower Quotas for Mackerel and Herring
Reduced quotas resulted in decreases for mackerel and herring last year. Mackerel exports amounted to NOK 3.8 billion, down NOK 306 million, or 7 per cent, compared with 2014. Herring exports fetched NOK 2.4 billion in 2015, which was a decrease of 12 per cent, or NOK 327 million.
Shellfish Exports Rise Sharply
Norway exported shrimp, other shellfish and molluscs worth NOK 1.5 billion in 2015. This amounted to an increase of 52 per cent from 2014. The strong growth was due mainly to increased sales of shrimp, snow crab and king crab.
Poland and Denmark Top Markets
Seafood exports went to 143 countries last year. Of these, Poland ranked as the largest single destination, buying NOK 6.9 billion worth of product. While Poland has steadily become a more important consumer market, the substantial share of exports to that nation goes into further processing and eventual distribution to end users in Europe.
Denmark is now the next largest market for Norwegian seafood overall, and like Poland, it is heavily involved in further processing and transshipment of finished product. Norwegian exports to Denmark were valued at NOK 6.4 billion in 2015, an increase of NOK 1.4 billion, or 27 per cent.
