Global distribution, attractive prices and product development are resulting in increased consumption of Norwegian Salmon, says market analyst Paul T. Aandahl from the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Biggest Increase in Exports to Russia
The biggest increases in the volume of exports in 2012 were to markets in eastern Europe. The strongest growth was in exports to Russia, which were up by 29,000 tonnes compared to the previous year. Poland was a close second with an increase of 28,000 tonnes. On the list of biggest growth markets in 2012, France is in third position and Ukraine in fourth place.
Increased visibility as the result of marketing, combined with global health trends and growth in the sushi category, are also significant factors behind the growth in Norwegian Salmon exports, comments Bjrn-Erik Stabell, manager salmon and trout with the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Continued Strong Growth in Exports to the EU
The volume of exports of Norwegian Salmon products to the EU in 2012 totalled 654,000 tonnes, an increase of 17 per cent compared to the previous year. France is Norways biggest salmon export market, and in 2012 the volume of exports grew by 12 per cent.
Stable Norwegian Salmon prices
Despite the strong growth in the volume of exports from Norway and other producers of Atlantic salmon in 2012, salmon prices have remained relatively stable in 2012 compared to the previous year. The average export price for fresh whole Norwegian Salmon in 2012 was NOK 27.65 per kg. This is NOK 4.30 lower than in 2011. In 2012 the lowest price was reached in January and October, when the average price touched NOK 25.73 per kg. By December the price had risen to NOK 30.30 per kg, which marked the highest average monthly price in the whole of 2012.
Also growth in Norwegian Fjord Trout Exports
Exports of Norwegian Fjord Trout increased in value in 2012 by NOK 285 million to a total of NOK 1.7 billion. The increase is the result of strong growth in export volume, which totalled 56,000 tonnes. This is 43 per cent up on the previous year.
With the volume of exports to Russia up by no less than 60 per cent, Russia increased its relative share of exports of Norwegian Fjord Trout in 2012 to account for fully 55 per cent of total Norwegian Fjord Trout exports. Other major markets for Norwegian Fjord Trout were Japan and Belarus.
The average price of the most important product, fresh whole Norwegian Fjord Trout, was down in 2012 by NOK 5.26 per kg to NOK 29.67 per kg. This is NOK 2.02 higher than the average price of fresh whole Norwegian Salmon.
