In March, 216,000 tonnes of seafood were exported, worth NOK 8.9 billion (£830 million) – an increase of 17% compared with the same last year, although volumes dropped by 14%.
“The growth in value for Norwegian seafood continues. After the first quarter we see that exports of salmon to the EU have grown in value, despite a volume decline of 5 per cent. Salmon exports to Asia and the United States increased by 29 per cent in volume. This contributes overall to the volume and value growth for Norwegian salmon exports in the first quarter. Fresh whole cod, bacalao, herring and mackerel have also contributed to the growth in value of seafood exports,” says Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, director of market insight at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
“Asia will continue to capture a larger share of salmon exports as soon as market access for Norwegian salmon to China is normalized,” adds Sigmund Bjørgo, Seafood Council Fisheries Delegate in China.
Salmon exports reached 233,000 tonnes, with a value of NOK 16.1 billion (£1.51 billion) in the first quarter of this year. This is an increase of 3 per cent in terms of volume, while the value increased by 21 per cent. The average price for fresh whole salmon increased from NOK 56.63 (£5.30) to NOK 65.44 (£6.13) per kg. Poland, France and the United States were the biggest buyers.
Meanwhile trout exports fell to 8,700 tonnes, worth NOK 680 million (£63.66 million). Volume fell by 53 per cent, while the value fell by 24 per cent. Japan, Poland and Belarus were the biggest markets.
The country exported 78,000 tonnes of herring with a value of NOK 894 million in Q1. This is an increase in volume of 15 per cent, and a 6 per cent rise in value. Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus were the main markets. 68,000 tonnes of mackerel, worth NOK 818 million, were exported in the first quarter. This is an increase in volume of 3 per cent, while the value increased by 6 per cent. China, Turkey and South Korea were the biggest markets.
Fresh cod exports remained at 33,000 tonnes, worth a total of NOK 1.1 billion. This is the same volume as last year, while the value increased by 5 per cent. Meanwhile 20,700 tonnes of frozen cod, at a value of NOK 686 million, were exported in the first quarter – a 7% decrease in volume and 2% drop in value.
Exports of king crab totalled 524 tonnes and were worth NOK 141 million – an 18% decline in volume and 6% drop in value. Prawn volumes fell by 12%, to a total of 1,800 tonnes, while their value fell by 23%.
