“We have never before exported as much Norwegian cod as in the first half of 2013," says Ove Johansen from the Norwegian Seafood Council. "At the same time we have not seen prices as low as this since 1997.”
In the first half of 2013, the value of exports of fresh Norwegian cod, saithe and haddock products from fishery totalled NOK 1.1 billion. This is an increase of NOK 205.5 million or 22 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The volume of exports of fresh whole Norwegian cod increased from 18,166 tonnes in the first half of 2012 to 36,586 tonnes in the first half-year of 2013, up by more than 100 per cent. In the same period, the average price fell by 24 per cent or NOK 5.37 per kg to NOK 16.75 per kg. The value of exports in the first half-year of 2013 totalled NOK 613 million, up by NOK 211 million from the same period last year.
The value of exports of fresh fillet products totalled NOK 251.5 million, slightly down by NOK 8.8 million compared to the same period last year.
Exports of Norwegian cod from aquaculture in the first half of 2013 fell in value by NOK 22.4 million to a total of NOK 38.7 million, with prices falling by 18 per cent.
Record clip fish exports
The value of clip fish exports in the first half of 2013 totalled NOK 1.4 million, a reduction of NOK 144 million or nine per cent compared to the same time last year. The volume of clip fish exports in the same period totalled 44,098 tonnes, which is 4,208 tonnes up held up against the first half of last year and marks a new record.
The value of exports of Norwegian cod clip fish in the first half of 2013 totalled NOK 739.7 million, a reduction of NOK 110.8 million compared to the first half of last year. In the same period, the average price fell by 22 per cent or NOK 10.46 per kg. The value of exports of Norwegian saithe clip fish totalled NOK 539.3 million. This equals a reduction of NOK 11.7 million or 13 per cent compared to the same time last year. At the same time, the average price fell by 14 per cent.
The biggest market for Norwegian clipfish was Portugal, with exports valued at NOK 443.4 million. Exports to Brazil, the second biggest market, were valued at NOK 388.4 million.
Exports of salted fish up in volume
In the first half-year the value of exports of salted fish, both whole and filleted, totalled NOK 555.7 million. This is a reduction of NOK 68.3 million compared to the first half of last year. In the same period, the volume of exports increased by 3,143 tonnes to a total of 22,824 tonnes, while the average price fell by 23 per cent.
Portugal was the biggest market for salted fish, with exports valued at NOK 407.7 million, up by NOK 22 million or six per cent compared to the same period last year.
Growth in stockfish exports
The exports of stockfish reached a total value of NOK 190 million, an increase of NOK 30 million from the same period last year. The volume of exports of all types of stockfish rose by 489 tonnes to a total of 1,997 tonnes.
The value of exports of Norwegian cod stockfish from Lofoten to Italy in the first half of 2013 totaled NOK 111.6 million, an increase of NOK 24.3 million compared to the same period last year. The average price during the same period was down by 19 per cent to NOK 117.48 per kg.
Exports of frozen fish down
The value of exports of frozen groundfish totalled NOK 1.72 billion. This is NOK 51.2 million or three per cent less than the same period last year.
Exports of frozen fillets fell in value by NOK 109 million to NOK 427.7 million, while exports of frozen whole groundfish increased by NOK 56.5 million to a total of NOK 1.24 billion.
China is the biggest market for groundfish, with exports valued at NOK 534 million, up by NOK 4 million or one per cent compared to last year’s first six months.
