Africa

Over the past five years, Norwegian seafood exports to Africa have soared by nearly 2 billion NOK, focusing on key markets like Egypt, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo Brazzaville, Ghana, and Morocco. Trond Kostveit, our seafood representative in Central and West Africa, spearheads our presence, engaging in various activities across the region.

Previously viewed as a residual market, Africa has evolved into a dynamic arena presenting diverse opportunities and challenges for the seafood industry. In Nigeria, the total seafood market was 1.4 million tons in 2020, with Norway exporting 43,250 tons valued at 717 million NOK in 2023. While overall seafood consumption per capita in Nigeria declined by 24.6% over three years, consumption of key products like clipfish increased by 4%. In DR Congo, clipfish is a significant ingredient in local cuisine, and authorities have expressed willingness to reduce costs associated with seafood imports.

For Norwegian clipfish producers, Africa stands as a crucial revenue stream. Over 50 containers, equivalent to 1500+ tons of clipfish, are shipped monthly from Ålesund to DR Congo, Angola, Congo Brazzaville, and Gabon. Our objectives include enhancing market access, facilitating B2B meetings, and elevating awareness and preference for Norwegian clipfish in targeted regions like Kinshasa and Angola.

The seafood council's representative is quite confident that clipfish can become popular in several places. But first, the supply needs to be in place, and that's what we're working on now, he says. The Norwegian Seafood Council has now begun the task of exploring opportunities to sell even more Norwegian seafood to Africa. Initially, the focus is on saithe clipfish to Mozambique and increasing seafood sales to DR Congo. The African market is vibrant, offering vast potential for Norwegian seafood exporters. Our efforts focus on fostering local relations and addressing specific market challenges to sustain growth and adaptation.