Entering the last month of 2016, the Norwegian seafood industry’s year-to-date exports totaled NOK 83.2 billion (about $9.6 billion), reflecting an increase in value of NOK 16 billion compared to the same period in 2015. This looks like another record year for Norwegian seafood exports will come to pass.
“Assuming normal performance in December, we see that total exports will pass the NOK 90 billion mark (approximately $10.3 billion) by a wide margin, as more and more markets are requesting seafood from Norway,” said Geir Håvard Hanssen, communications director of Norge, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
In November, Norway exported 219,000 tons of seafood valued at NOK 9 billion. This is a volume decrease of 16%, while in value it represents a year-on-year increase of 22% compared with November of 2015. So far this year, exports of 2.3 million tons reflect a 7% decrease in comparison with the same period in 2015.
“Demand for Norwegian seafood is increasing more than the seafood industry is managing to export. So far this year the volume of exports has decreased by 7%,” said Hanssen.
Salmon and Trout
The price for salmon and trout has been at a historic high throughout 2016. In November the Norwegian salmon industry exported 94,000 tons of salmon worth NOK 6.1 billion. This is a volume increase of 2%, while the value increased by 38% compared with November of 2015. This is the first time the value of salmon exports exceeded NOK 6 billion in a single month.
Prices remained high in November with an average price for whole salmon at NOK 61.90 per kilogram compared with NOK 44.86 during the same month the year before. The price for whole trout was, for the second consecutive month, higher than that for whole salmon. The average export price was NOK 65.18 per kilogram in November.
So far this year Norway has exported 890,000 tons of salmon valued at NOK 55 billion. This is a volume decrease of 5.1%, while the value has increased by 30% compared to the same period last year. The high prices have contributed to lower export volumes to major salmon markets in Europe.
“The value of Norwegian salmon exports rose in November, while there was a decline in volume to major consumer markets such as Spain and Sweden. Meanwhile, exports of salmon have increased to markets with a significant processing industry, such as Poland and Denmark. In addition exports by volume to the US also increased. While the volume of exports fell for processed salmon products, this was balanced by the increased export volumes for fresh whole Norwegian salmon in November,” said NSV salmon analyst Paul Aandahl.
In November 4,208 tons of trout worth NOK 295 million were exported by Norwegian producers. This is a volume decrease of 32%, while the export value increased by 8% compared with November of 2015. So far in 2016 Norway has exported 64,100 tons of trout worth NOK 3.6 billion. By volume this is an increase of 38%, while by value the increase was NOK 77 million higher than the same period in 2015. Japan and Belarus bought the most trout from Norway in November.
Herring and Mackerel
In November the Norwegian pelagic industry exported 31,000 tons of herring worth NOK 454 million. This is a year-on-year volume decrease of 28%, while by value the decrease was 8% compared to November of 2015. In the same month 41,000 tons of mackerel were exported with a value of NOK 570 million. This is a volume decrease of 29%, while by value mackerel export ales fell by 7% compared to November of 2015.
“The export volume of both herring and mackerel fell in November. The market was strong and prices high, but reduced volumes available for export led to a reduction in export value. Thus far in 2016, the export value has increased by 32% for herring and 8% for mackerel compared to the same period in 2015,” said NSC analyst Kristin Lien.
So far this year Norway has exported 210,000 tons of herring valued at NOK 2.8 billion. While volume has increased by 7%, value has climbed 32%. Poland and Germany were the largest markets for herring in November.
Thus far in 2016 Norway has exported 292,000 tons of mackerel worth NOK 3.8 billion. Volume decreased by 11%, while the value of exports rose 8% compared to the same period in 2015. In November, South Korea and China were the most important export markets for Norwegian mackerel.
Fresh Cod Up, Frozen Down
“November was a stable month for the fish industry. The overall volume of exports fell by 1%, while the value increased by 3% compared with November of 2015. The price for frozen fillets rose the most in November, by some 20%. In volume terms whole fresh cod increased the most, up 36% compared with November 2015,” said NSC groundfish analyst Ingrid Kristine Pettersen.
In November the Norwegian groundfish industry exported 3,486 tons of fresh cod, including fillets, worth NOK 124 million. There was also a volume increase of 41%, while by value fresh cod exports increased by 28% compared to November of 2015.
So far this year, the Norwegian whitefish industry has exported 60,000 tons of fresh cod, valued at NOK 2 billion. Volumes were at the same level as last year, while the value increased by 13% compared with the same period last year.
In November, Norway exported 8,564 tons of frozen cod, including fillets, that fetched NOK 264 million. There was a decrease in export volume of 8%, while the value of frozen cod exports dropped by 2% compared with last November.
So far in 2016 Norway has exported 76,000 tons of frozen cod, including fillets, valued at NOK 2.4 billion. This represents a volume increase of 18%, and an increase in export value of 26% compared with the same period last in 2015.
Clipfish and Salted Fish Exports Up
“Export values of clipfish and salted fish increased in November due to the good prices for clipfish and salted cod, while difficult market conditions have led to a decline in both price and volume for clipfish and salted saithe,” said Pettersen.
In November Norwegian clipfish producers exported 8,352 tons of product valued at NOK 405 million. This represents a volume rise of 5%, and a value increase of 7% compared with November 2015.
So far in 2016 Norway has exported 74,000 tons of clipfish worth NOK 3.4 billion. This is a volume decrease of 7%, and a 6% fall in export value compared with the same period in 2105.
In November, Norwegian exports of salted fish amounted to 1,659 tons worth NOK 63 million. This is a volume increase of 31%, and an increase in value of 31% compared with November of 2015. So far this year 29,000 tons of salted fish valued at NOK 1.2 billion have been exported. Volume is at the same level, while the value has increased by 7% compared with the same period in 2015.
