This increase amounts to 24 per cent, or NOK 229 million, in comparison with February 2010, according to figures issued by the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. Never before have cod exports been greater in the month of February and it is, in particular, the exports of clipfish, salted and fresh cod that have led to the increase.
"Huge demand has been reported for cod for salting and drying in Portugal. Both salted and fresh cod form the raw material for the Portuguese clipfish industry," explains market analyst Ove Johansen, at the NSEC. "In addition, the Easter sales of clipfish have now really taken off, and total cod exports to Portugal increased by more than 75 per cent in February."
Clipfish worth NOK 454 million was exported in February, representing an increase of 42 per cent, or NOK 135.2 million, on February 2010. In volume terms, this amounts to 41 per cent. A total of 12,200 tonnes of clipfish were exported in February, 3,550 tonnes more than in 2010. Clipfish from cod increased in value by NOK 63.2 to a total of NOK 222 million, while clipfish from saithe increased by NOK 56.8 million to NOK 185.5 million.
Brazil was the largest recipient of clipfish in February, purchasing clipfish worth NOK 272.7 million. This amounted to a total volume of 6,969 tonnes, an increase on the same month last year of more than 85 per cent in value terms and 95 per cent in volume.
Export of all salted fish products amounted to NOK 167.6 million in February, representing an increase of 49 per cent, or NOK 54.8 million, on February 2010. Total volumes exported amounted to 4,930 tonnes, and this is 1,142 tonnes, or 30 per cent, more than the previous year. Whole salted cod increased in value by 63 per cent, from NOK 93.6 million to 153 million. Portugal is responsible for most of the growth in salted cod exports.
Reduction in dried cod In February, export of all dried cod products amounted to NOK 39.5 million. This represents a reduction of 21 per cent, or NOK10.4 million, from February 2010. In volume terms, exports fell by 38 per cent to a total of 437 tonnes.
Exports of Norwegian cod stockfish from Lofoten to Italy fell by NOK 6.7 million to NOK 22.1 million. February kilogramme prices amounted to 135.67 NOK/kg, an increase of 33 per cent from February last year.
Exports of fresh white fish products from the fisheries increased in February by more than 23 per cent on the same month last year, reaching a total of NOK 187,2 million. This is the highest value ever for the month of February. The greatest interest is in fresh whole cod, for which the volume increased by 56 per cent, or 1,356 tonnes, from last February to a total of 3,787 tonnes this February.
"In certain markets, the interest from the food retail sector in participating in Skrei promotions has been far greater than in previous years, and this has yielded results in increased sales. It is also positive to register that average prices maintain a higher level compared with last year, even if volumes have increased. The challenge over the last few weeks has been the weather, which has posed problems for suppliers' stable deliveries in the quantities that the market has demanded," says Karin Olsen, who is Marketing Manager for cod at the NSEC.
In February, exports of frozen white fish products were worth NOK 266.3 billion. This is a reduction in value terms of 17 per cent, compared with the same month in 2010. In volume terms, the reduction was 27 per cent. The greatest reduction was for frozen whole cod and haddock. Aquaculture increasing
In February, total exports of farmed white fish reached NOK 30.3 million. This is 9.5 per cent or NOK 2.6 million higher than February 2010. Most of the growth comes from whole farmed cod, amounting in total to NOK 22 million, an increase of 13.6 per cent or NOK 2.6 million on February 2010. Spain and Sweden are the largest markets, and were responsible for 31 per cent and 24 per cent of all whole farmed code in February.
