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Rising prices and demand led to a total NOK 70.1 billion (USD 6.9 billion, EUR 6.8 billion) worth of fisheries and aquaculture products being exported by Norway to overseas markets in the first-half of this year, with the new record total up 31 percent or NOK 16.4 billion (USD 1.6 billion, EUR 1.6 billion) compared with the corresponding period of 2021.
Norway Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs Bjørnar Skjæran said achieving an export value in excess of NOK 70 billion was “a very impressive result” and underscored how important the sector is for value creation, job security, and coastal economic activity.
“I am glad that Norwegian seafood has both products and a brand that is in high demand internationally, even in these turbulent times. Nevertheless, we must be prepared for changing prices in the future. Active and long-term marketing work will therefore be important in the time ahead,” he said.
Salmon continued to account for the largest share of Norway’s export value in the six-month period, with the lower production volume and increasing demand resulting in record high prices. Fresh whole salmon averaged NOK 87.37 (USD 8.66, EUR 8.45) per kilogram, compared with NOK 58.29 (USD 5.77, EUR 5.64) a year ago.
In total, Norway exported 534,500 metric tons (MT) of salmon, valued at NOK 48.4 billion (USD 4.8 billion, EUR 4.7 billion) in the first half of the year, with the volume falling by 5 percent and the value up 37 percent or NOK 13.2 billion (USD 1.3 billion, EUR 1.3 billion) year-on-year.
Poland, France, and the United States were the largest recipients of Norwegian salmon, while exports to France and Italy saw the highest value growth.
The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) also confirmed it has been a lucrative six months for the trout sector, with exports totaling 23,800 MT valued at NOK 2.1 billion (USD 207.9 million, EUR 202.9 million), with export volumes falling 5 percent but export value rising 35 percent. The United States, Thailand, and Japan provided the largest trout markets, with the average export price for fresh products rising to NOK 89.65 (USD 8.88, EUR 8.66) per kilo.
From its whitefish sector, Norway exported a total 41,700 MT of fresh cod in the six-month period, earning NOK 2 billion (USD 198 million, EUR 193.3 million), with the volume falling 14 percent but the value rising by the same amount. Denmark, the Netherlands, and Poland provided the top three markets for Norwegian whitefish in the first half of 2022.
At the same time, 50,600 MT of frozen cod from Norway, worth NOK 2.5 billion (USD 247.5 million, EUR 241.5 million), was sold overseas, with the volume and value rising 14 percent and 43 percent respectively. China, the United Kingdom, and the United States were the product’s top markets.
Norway’s pelagic exporters shipped 142,200 MT of herring, valued at NOK 1.8 billion (USD 178.2 million, EUR 173.9 million), with the volume and value falling 15 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Some 84,200 MT of mackerel worth NOK 1.6 billion (USD 158.4 million, EUR 154.6 million) was also sold by Norwegian exporters, representing a 28 percent decrease in volume and value fall of 10 percent. Poland, Egypt, and Lithuania offered the largest markets for Norwegian herring over the six months, while South Korea, China and Japan were the main markets for the country’s mackerel.
NSC said the quota for Norwegian spring-spawning herring was reduced by 8 percent this year compared with 2021, but that bad weather and a focus on capelin saw landings fall 18 percent. The fleet did, however, land an additional 38 percent North Sea herring (99,000 MT).
Norway’s shellfish sector exported 609 MT of king crab worth NOK 388 million (USD 38.4 million, EUR 37.5 million) in H1 2022, representing a volume decrease of 46 percent and an 8 percent lower value. The United States, the Netherlands, and South Korea were the product’s largest markets in the period.
Norway also shipped 3,000 MT of snow crab worth NOK 548 million (USD 54.2 million, EUR 52.9 million), down 14 percent and 8 percent, respectively, with Denmark, Japan, and the United States the largest recipients of the product.
Additionally, some 8,000 MT of shrimp with a value of NOK 503 million (USD 49.8 million, EUR 48.6 million) was exported out of Norway in H1 2022, with the volume and value rising 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Iceland were the main Norwegian shrimp markets.
Photo courtesy of ESB Professional/Shutterstock
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