Seafood Exports Down In October

So far this year, seafood exports have been worth NOK 43.3 billion, an increase of NOK 362 million on the record year of 2010, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council.

The downturn in seafood exports for the month of October is due to the low world market price for salmon. Overall, the positive trend in exports of herring, mackerel and cod is not strong enough to compensate for the decline in the value of salmon exports, says Egil Ove Sundheim, Director of Market Information at the Norwegian Seafood Export Council.

Salmon exports of NOK 2.25 billion

Salmon exports fell by NOK 756 million or 25 per cent to a total of NOK 2.25 billion in October. So far this year, salmon exports have been worth NOK 24 billion, a decrease of NOK 831 million. The downturn has been caused by a reduction in prices.

During the period from January to October inclusive, the average price for fresh salmon with the head is NOK 33.60 per kg, a reduction of NOK 3.43 per kg compared with the same period last year. If we look at the month of October, the price of salmon is NOK 23.43 per kg, a decrease of NOK 13.49 per kg compared with October last year. So far this year, France, Russia and Poland are the largest importers of salmon from Norway.

Increase for mackerel and herring

Mackerel exports increased by NOK 303 million or 36 per cent to a total of NOK 1.1 billion in October. So far this year, mackerel exports have been worth NOK 2.9 billion, an increase of NOK 242 million.

In October, herring exports increased by NOK 108 million to a total value of NOK 488 million. So far this year, exports have been worth NOK 3 billion, an increase of NOK 477 million.

Japan is the largest importer of mackerel with a value of NOK 969 million, corresponding to growth of NOK 19 million so far this year. Russia remains the largest recipient of herring although imports fell by 3.4 per cent to a value of NOK 708 million. Germany is the second largest buyer of herring from Norway and increased its imports by 54 per cent to a total value of NOK 480 million.

Growth for frozen cod

Exports of frozen, whole white fish totalled NOK 308 million in October and this is NOK 134 million or 77 per cent higher than the same month last year. Measured in terms of volume, this was an increase of 6,203 tonnes to a total of 17,937 tonnes.

Never before has so much frozen whole cod been exported in the month of October, whether measured in terms of value or volume.

Reduction in October for clipfish and saltfish

Saltfish worth NOK 482 million was exported in October. This represents a reduction of six per cent or NOK 34 million compared with the same month last year. So far this year, clipfish exports have been worth NOK 3 billion, an increase of NOK 194 million or seven per cent.

In October, saltfish exports fell by NOK 7 million or 11 per cent. So far this year, exports have increased by NOK 106 million or 13 per cent to a total of NOK 945 million.