Norwegian seafood exports exceed NOK 30 billion

Meat is still dominant in the U.S. market. Increased focus on health and healthy lifestyles can gradually change this picture. Salmon exports from Norway to the U.S. is approaching a billion NOK and exports of salmon fillets has quadrupled compared to the same period last year. Photo: Christian Chramer.

The value of seafood exports from Norway so far this year stands at NOK 30.6 billion. This is NOK 4.7 billion or 18% up on the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. In September, seafood exports from Norway totalled NOK 3.8 billion, up by NOK 424 million compared to the same period last year.

“The demand for Norwegian Salmon fillets in the U.S. is one of the driving forces behind the growth in exports for the year to date,” comments Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information with the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. “At the end of September, the value of Norwegian Salmon exports to the U.S. was close to NOK 1 billion, or about four times the value for the same period last year.”

Biggest volume of Norwegian Salmon exports in history

In September, exports of Norwegian Salmon totalled 75,000 tonnes. Never before have monthly exports of Norwegian Salmon been as high as in September 2009. By comparison, exports in September 2008 totalled 59,000 tonnes. Exports in September 2009 generated earnings of more than NOK 2 billion. This year to date, exports of Norwegian Salmon total 573,000 tonnes valued at NOK 16.7 billion, an increase of NOK 4.1 billion.

Exports of Norwegian Fjord Trout declined in September by NOK 30 million to NOK 151 million, due primarily to a downturn in volume. The total value of exports of Norwegian Fjord Trout for the year to date is NOK 1.4 billion, an increase of NOK 172 million. France and Poland are the biggest importers of Norwegian Salmon, while Russia and Japan are the biggest importers of Norwegian Fjord Trout.

Downturn for herring

Exports of herring in September fell by NOK 65 million to a total value of NOK 114 million compared to September last year. This year to date, exports of herring from Norway have increased by NOK 439 million to a value of NOK 2.4 billion. Russia and Ukraine continue to be the biggest importers of herring from Norway, while Germany is showing the biggest growth in imports of herring from Norway, up by NOK 148 million to a total value of NOK 242 million. This growth is attributable primarily to imports of frozen herring fillets.

Growth in exports of mackerel

In September, the value of exports of mackerel from Norway increased by NOK 111 million to NOK 343 million. For the year to date, the value of mackerel exports stands at NOK 1 billion, up by no less than 70%. The biggest importers of mackerel from Norway are Russia, Japan and China.

Exports of salted fish up in volume

In September, exports of salted cod from Norway showed impressive growth in volume of almost 137% to 2,635 tonnes, an increase in value of 71% to NOK 87 million. For the year to date, total exports of salted fish remain 8,400 tonnes down on the same period last year and at end-September stood at 28,000 tonnes.

Source: Seafoodfromnorway.com