A cod processing plant. (Photo: Per Eide Studio/NSC)

April seafood exports fall by 12pc

NORWAY
Tuesday, May 08, 2012, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

The value of exports of Norwegian seafood in April totalled NOK 3.7 billion (EUR 488.7 million). This is a decline of NOK 501 million (EUR 66.2 million) or 12 per cent compared to April in 2011.

This year to date, seafood exports have totalled NOK 16.8 billion (EUR 2.2 billion) in value, down by NOK 1.1 billion (EUR 145.3 million) or 6 per cent from the same period last year.

“One cause of the downturn in the value of exports of Norwegian seafood is the 30 per cent drop in the price of Norwegian Salmon in April from its record level in 2011,” explained Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information with the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC). “In addition, we have seen some sectors of the trade relocate their warehousing facilities to Norway, in part due to the economic challenges many importers are currently facing in Europe.”

Exports of Norwegian salmon down

Salmon fillet exports. (Photo: Tom Haga, EFF/NSEC)

Exports of Norwegian salmon in April were valued at NOK 2.2 billion (EUR 290.6 million), down by NOK 315 million (EUR 41.6 million) or 12 per cent compared to the same month last year. This year to date, the value of exports of Norwegian salmon has totalled NOK 9 billion (EUR 1.2 billion), a decline of NOK 1 billion (EUR 132.1 million) or 10 per cent compared to the same period last year.

This downturn is attributable to lower export prices. The average price of whole fresh Norwegian salmon in April was NOK 29.58 (EUR 3.91) compared to NOK 42.69 (EUR 5.64) in April 2011. As in the previous month, France and Russia are the biggest markets for Norwegian salmon.

April saw exports of Norwegian fjord trout increase in value by NOK 59 million (EUR 7.8 million) to a total of NOK 145 million (EUR 19.2 million). This year to date, the value of exports of Norwegian fjord trout has totalled NOK 552 million (EUR 72.9 million), up by NOK 123 million (EUR 16.2 million) compared to the same period last year. The biggest markets for Norwegian fjord trout are Russia and Japan.

Exports of herring down, mackerel up

The value of herring exports fell in April by NOK 21 million (EUR 2.8 million) to a total of NOK 208 million (EUR 27.5 million). For the year to date, herring exports have totalled NOK 1.8 billion or NOK 18 million (EUR 2.4 million) less than in the same period last year. The biggest markets for herring from Norway are Russia and Germany.

In April, exports of mackerel increased in value by NOK 39 million (EUR 5.2 million) to a total of NOK 97 million (EUR 12.8 million) and for the year to date have been up by NOK 245 million (EUR 32.4 million) to total NOK 883 million (EUR 116.6 million). The biggest markets for mackerel are Russia and China.

Reduced exports of clipfish and salted fish

Salted fish. (Photo: Per Eide Studio/NSEC)

The value of clipfish exports fell by NOK 70 million (EUR 9.2 million) in April to a total of NOK 151 million (EUR 19.9 million). A breakdown of this figure shows that clipfish of Norwegian cod accounted for NOK 99 million (EUR 13.1 million) and saithe NOK 45 million (EUR 5.9 million), with the remainder accounted for by ling, torsk and other groundfish.

April exports of salted fish including fillets fell in value by NOK 23 million (EUR 3 million) to a total of NOK 120 million (EUR 15.8 million), of which Norwegian cod accounted for NOK 118.6 million (EUR 15.7 million).

Fresh Norwegian cod down, frozen shows growth

In April, the value of exports of fresh Norwegian cod including fillets from fishery fell in value by NOK 25 million (EUR 3.3 million) to a total of NOK 122 million (EUR 16.1 million), while exports of frozen Norwegian cod including fillets showed growth of NOK 15 million (EUR 1.98 million) to total NOK 107 million (EUR 14.1 million).

Related article:

- Salmon exports show biggest growth ever

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 Norwegian Seafood Council / Norges sjømatråd (Headquarter)

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