Norway exported seafood worth NOK 84.5 billion in the first half of the year. This represents a decline of NOK 669 million, or 1 per cent, compared with the same period last year.

“Seafood exports in the first half of the year were influenced by both domestic and international factors. Here at home, low quotas for several wild-caught species have resulted in record-low export volumes and record-high export prices, whilst geopolitical unrest in the markets has made global trade even more challenging,” says Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Minister: - Seafood exports are robust

The largest markets for Norwegian seafood exports in the first half of the year were Poland, China and the US.

“Overall, seafood exports are solid, which is impressive at a time characterised by a shifting trade policy landscape. Although exports to the US have fallen, they have increased in other markets. At the same time, I understand that the situation is challenging for companies that have focused on the US market. The Government is committed to strengthening market access for the seafood industry and will continue to prioritise this work,” says Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss (Labour Party).

Record-high salmon production

Salmon remains the driving force behind Norwegian seafood exports. In the first half of the year, Norway exported salmon worth NOK 58 billion. This accounted for 69 per cent of total exports by value, which is an increase of 1 percentage point compared with the same period last year.

“Norwegian salmon production has never been higher than in this first half of the year. At the same time, the krone has strengthened against the dollar and the euro compared with the same period last year. The combination of high export volumes, tariffs to the US and a negative currency effect resulted in the lowest export price for fresh whole salmon in a first half of the year since 2021,” explains Christian Chramer.

Seafood exports affected by the war in the Middle East

The war in the Middle East is another factor that has affected exports in the first half of the year.

“The war has not only posed challenges for logistics to Asia, but has also increased freight and fuel costs. All parts of the seafood industry have really felt the impact of this in the first six months of the year,” explains Chramer.

Despite the outbreak of war, adverse currency effects, US tariffs and quota reductions, the value of Norwegian seafood exports fell by just 1 per cent in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year.

China has overtaken the US in the top three

“Demand for healthy, protein-rich Norwegian seafood remains strong, with growth in the EU market, amongst others. The same positive trend applies to China, which has now overtaken the US to become our second-largest export market,” says Christian Chramer.

Norway exported seafood to the US worth NOK 6.3 billion in the first half of the year. This represents a decline of NOK 2.4 billion, or 28 per cent, compared with the same period last year.

“The tariff dispute has reversed the growth we have seen in exports to the US in recent years, and we have to go back to 2022 to find a lower export value to this market. The decline is also the largest for a single market since Norwegian seafood was banned from Russia in 2015. It is exports of salmon, snow crab, trout and king crab to the US that are falling the most,” says Chramer.

Risk of increased tariffs to the US

Whilst total Norwegian salmon exports saw an 8 per cent increase in volume in the first half of the year, total exports of fresh and frozen fillets fell by 10 per cent.

“The US remains by far Norway’s largest market for salmon fillets, so the decline has hit the Norwegian fillet industry particularly hard. There is still considerable uncertainty surrounding future tariff rates to the US,” says Christian Chramer.

Decline in volume leads to increased competition for raw materials

In total, Norway exported 1.3 million tonnes of seafood in the first half of the year. This represents a 2 per cent decline compared with the same period last year.

“The growth in volume for salmon and herring largely offsets the decline in volume for whitefish, prawns and mackerel. Quota reductions for species such as cod, king crab and mackerel are important for stock management, but at the same time have a dramatic impact on the Norwegian processing industry. The battle for raw materials has never been tougher than in the first half of this year,” emphasises Christian Chramer.

Here are the figures for the seafood exports in June

  • The export value in June stood at NOK 14.4 billion
  • This represents an increase of NOK 1.2 billion, or 9 per cent, compared with June last year

Here are the largest markets by value in the first half of the year

  1. Poland: NOK 10.1 billion (+32%)
  2. China: NOK 7.4 billion (+31%)
  3. US: NOK 6.3 billion (-28%)
  4. Netherlands: NOK 5.1 billion (+6%)
  5. France: NOK 4.8 billion (-1%)
  6. Spain: NOK 4.6 billion (+4%)
  7. Denmark: NOK 4.5 billion (-16%)
  8. United Kingdom: NOK 4.3 billion (-12%)
  9. Italy: NOK 3.5 billion (-1%)
  10. Portugal: NOK 2.8 billion (-11%)

Here are the main species by value in the first half of the year

  1. Salmon: NOK 58 billion (+1%)
  2. Cod: NOK 6.1 billion (-10%)
  3. Trout: NOK 3.2 billion (-8%)
  4. Herring: NOK 2.6 billion (+29%)
  5. Mackerel: NOK 2 billion (-21%)
  6. Saithe: NOK 1.9 billion (-14%)
  7. Haddock: NOK 1.8 billion (+47%)
  8. Snow crab: NOK 1.3 billion (-11%)
  9. Prawns: NOK 914 million (-5%)
  10. Redfish: NOK 514 million (-5%)

Quarterly performance in the first half of the year

  • First quarter: NOK 43.5 billion (-1.6%)
  • Second quarter: NOK 41.0 billion (+0.1%)

Developments in aquaculture

The value of aquaculture accounts for 73 per cent of total seafood exports by value, whilst by volume it accounts for 54 per cent.

  • In the first half of the year, Norway exported 0.7 million tonnes of seafood from aquaculture
  • The value was NOK 61.9 billion
  • This represents a 6.5 per cent increase in volume
  • The value increased by NOK 129 million, which was virtually unchanged from 2025

Trends in fisheries

The value of fisheries accounts for 27 per cent of total seafood exports by value, whilst by volume it accounts for 46 per cent.

  • In the first half of the year, Norway exported 0.6 million tonnes of seafood from fisheries
  • The value was NOK 22.6 billion
  • The volume fell by 10.1 per cent
  • The value fell by NOK 798 million, or 3 per cent, compared with 2025

Salmon: Largest increase in value to Poland

  • Norway exported 655,598 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 58 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value increased by NOK 356 million, or 1 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • This represents an 8 per cent increase in volume
  • Poland, China and France were the largest markets for salmon in the first half of the year

Poland saw the greatest growth in value in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 1,806 million, or 28 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.

Export volume to Poland stood at 104,595 tonnes, which is 38 per cent higher than in the first half of last year.

Seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl at the Norwegian Seafood Council highlights three factors to explain the growth in exports to Poland:

  1. More fish is being sent directly to Poland, rather than the salmon being recorded as an export to the transit and processing market in Denmark.
  2. Exports of processed products from Poland are rising sharply. Germany, in particular, has received more salmon from there this year.
  3. Domestic consumption of salmon is rising sharply in Poland. Smoked salmon and fresh, unprocessed salmon in particular are driving this increase. This trend must be seen in the context of the country’s strong economic growth in recent years.

Growth in China continues

Salmon exports to China have been very strong in the first half of the year, with growth of as much as 51 per cent by volume and 42 per cent by value.

This export growth comes on top of a very good year last year, when salmon exports rose by 99 per cent in volume and 59 per cent in value. China is now Norway’s second-largest salmon market after Poland.

“The Chinese salmon market has strong underlying growth. In 2025, total imports from all salmon-exporting countries rose by as much as 50 per cent. This growth has continued into 2026. Whilst China was the world’s eighth-largest salmon market in 2023, only the US is now larger,” says Sigmund Bjørgo, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s envoy to China.

The increase in sales is taking place on digital platforms and in modern grocery retail, and salmon distribution has expanded even in smaller Chinese towns.

“On top of this, Norway has increased its market share, from 57 per cent last year to 61 per cent so far this year,” says Bjørgo.

Sharp decline to the US

The value share of processed products in salmon exports has fallen from 30 per cent last year to 25 per cent this year.

“This is largely due to a decline in salmon exports to the US. In the first half of the year, exports amounted to NOK 2 billion compared with the same period last year,” says Paul T. Aandahl.

With a share of 23 per cent for fresh fillets and 30 per cent for frozen fillets, the US remains Norway’s most important market for salmon fillets.

“The introduction of tariffs and generally uncertain conditions for future trade have reduced exports from Norway,” explains Aandahl.

The export value of fresh fillets to the US fell by 38 per cent, whilst exports of frozen fillets have fallen by 32 per cent so far this year.

The reduction in fillet exports to the US has not been sufficiently offset by increased exports to other markets.

Here are the export figures for salmon in June

  • Norway exported 129,800 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 10.1 billion in June
  • The value increased by NOK 1 billion, or 11 per cent, compared with June last year
  • This represents a 19 per cent increase in volume

Trout: Decline in volume and value

  • Norway exported 35,394 tonnes of trout worth NOK 3.2 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 279 million, or 8 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 10 per cent
  • The US, Poland and Ukraine were the largest markets for trout in the first half of the year

Poland saw the greatest growth in value in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 246 million, or 96 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.

Export volume to Poland stood at 6,088 tonnes, which is 88 per cent higher than in the first half of last year.

“The decline in trout volumes is due to a shift in production, away from trout and towards salmon. Producers are free to choose whether they want to produce salmon or trout,” says seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Here are the figures for trout exports in June

  • Norway exported 7,900 tonnes of trout worth NOK 640 million in June
  • The value increased by NOK 97 million, or 18 per cent, compared with June last year
  • This represents an 18 per cent increase in volume

Fresh cod: Fierce competition for raw materials

  • Norway exported 18,071 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 1.7 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 72 million, or 4 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 20 per cent
  • Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland were the largest markets for fresh cod in the first half of the year

Low cod quotas mean that competition for raw materials in the Norwegian processing industry is fiercer than ever.

“This means that an ever-increasing proportion of Norwegian landings of fresh cod is being used for the production of salted fish, stockfish and clipfish. This is at the expense of the export volume of fresh wild cod,” says seafood analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Whilst landings of fresh cod fell by 15 per cent in the first half of the year, the export volume of fresh wild cod fell by as much as 28 per cent, to 10,358 tonnes.

“Since the turn of the millennium, 2008 is the only year in which the export volume of fresh wild cod has been lower in the first half of the year. The export value of fresh wild cod fell by 10 per cent in the first half of the year, to NOK 1.1 billion,” explains Brækkan.

Record-high proportion of farmed cod

For fresh farmed cod, export volume fell by 5 per cent to 7,713 tonnes, whilst the export value rose by 9 per cent to NOK 595 million.

“Farmed cod accounted for 35 per cent of the export value of fresh cod. This is a record-high share, up 5 percentage points from the first half of last year,” says Eivind Hestvik Brækkan.

In June, the export volume of fresh farmed cod rose by as much as 63 per cent, to 1,315 tonnes.

Here are the figures for fresh cod exports in June

  • Norway exported 2,000 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 165 million in June
  • The value rose by NOK 35 million, or 27 per cent, compared with June last year
  • This represents an 11 per cent increase in volume

Frozen cod: Lowest landings in 35 years

  • Norway exported 13,988 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 1.4 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 346 million, or 20 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 35 per cent
  • The UK, Vietnam and China were the largest markets for frozen cod in the first half of the year

The lowest cod quotas since 1991 mean that landings of frozen cod in the first half of the year are the lowest since the turn of the millennium.

“This naturally has an impact on export volumes, which in the first half of the year are the lowest since 1991,” says seafood analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Record-high export price

Very low volumes, combined with sanctions against Russian cod in several key markets, are contributing to a record-high export price for frozen whole cod.

“For the first time, the average price for frozen whole cod has exceeded NOK 100 per kg in a half-year period, standing at NOK 104 per kg. This is NOK 10 higher than the previous record half-year, which was in the second half of 2025,” explains Brækkan.

Although the UK was our largest market for frozen cod for the fourth year running, there was also a sharp decline in both export volume and value there in the first half of the year.

Export volume to the UK fell by 54 per cent, to just 3,400 tonnes, whilst the value of exports fell by 43 per cent, to NOK 405 million. This is the lowest figure since 2021.

Increased competition from other species in the UK

“In the UK, 2026 was expected to be a challenging year for cod in general, and Norwegian cod in particular. The lowest quotas in 35 years have led to a significant reduction in the supply of raw materials and contributed to a sharp rise in prices. This has changed consumption patterns and led to increased competition from other species,” says Bjørn-Erik Stabell, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s envoy to the UK.

“The UK’s strong historical position, with its national dish fish and chips and an innovative retail market characterised by a high degree of processing, means the market remains robust, and increased cod quota recommendations for 2027 give cause for optimism,” says Stabell.

Here are the figures for frozen cod exports in June

  • Norway exported 3,500 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 311 million in June
  • The value increased by NOK 104 million, or 50 per cent, compared with June last year
  • This represents a 28 per cent increase in volume

Clipfish: Lowest export volume since 1992

  • Norway exported 24,019 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 2.5 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 324 million, or 12 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 32 per cent
  • Portugal, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were the largest markets for clipfish in the first half of the year

The export volume of clipfish is the lowest for a first half-year since 1992.

For clipfish made from saithe, export volume fell by 34 per cent to 13,749 tonnes, whilst the export value fell by 16 per cent to NOK 964 million.

For clipfish made from cod, export volume fell by 22 per cent to 6,994 tonnes, whilst the export value fell by 5 per cent to NOK 1.2 billion.

“We have to go all the way back to 1989 to find a lower export volume for clipfish made from cod in the first half of the year,” says seafood analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Decline in the consumption of clipfish in Portugal

As usual, Portugal is our dominant market for cod clipfish, accounting for 75 per cent of export volume in the first half of the year.

Export volumes to Portugal fell by 29 per cent to 5,100 tonnes, whilst the value of exports fell by 12 per cent to NOK 919 million.

“Although economic growth in Portugal has been stronger than in many other cod markets, quota cuts and higher prices mean that the Portuguese are also eating less clipfish than before,” says Brækkan.

In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of Portuguese people buying clipfish, how often they buy it, and how much they buy each time.

“So far this year, the figures show a 15 per cent decline in grocery sales of traditional clipfish flakes. The shift towards increased consumption of frozen rehydrated products is continuing, but sales of these products have also fallen this year,” explains Eivind Hestvik Brækkan.

Here are the figures for clipfish exports in June

  • Norway exported 2,800 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 306 million in June
  • The value fell by NOK 264 million, or 46 per cent, compared with June last year
  • The volume fell by 54 per cent

Salted fish: Decline in volume and value

  • Norway exported 10,500 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 1.5 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 181 million, or 11 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 27 per cent
  • Portugal, Greece and Italy were the largest markets for salted fish in the first half of the year

The export volume of salted fish is the lowest ever recorded in a first half of the year.

“Much of the reason is a record-low volume of salted cod, which accounted for 82 per cent of the export volume of salted fish in the first half of the year,” says seafood analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

The decline in export volume is spread across all major markets, whilst a record-high proportion of salted cod was exported to Portugal in the first half of the year.

As much as 93 per cent of Norwegian exports of salted cod went to Portugal. However, the volume exported to Portugal fell by as much as 26 per cent, to just 8,000 tonnes, the lowest level since 2003.

Here are the figures for salted fish exports in June

  • Norway exported 1,600 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 221 million in June
  • The value fell by NOK 32 million, or 13 per cent, compared with June last year
  • The volume fell by 30 per cent

Stockfish: Largest increase in value to Nigeria

  • Norway exported 1,403 tonnes of stockfish worth NOK 436 million in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 3 million, or 1 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 7 per cent
  • Italy, Nigeria and Croatia were the largest markets for stockfish in the first half of the year

Whilst the export volume of stockfish cod fell by 22 per cent to 946 tonnes in the first half of the year, the export volume of stockfish saithe and tusk increased.

“As usual, Italy is by far our largest market for stockfish cod, whilst Nigeria is our largest export market for stockfish saithe and tusk,” says seafood analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Nigeria was the market with the highest growth in value in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 10 million, or 36 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.

Here are the figures for stockfish exports in June

  • Norway exported 168 tonnes of stockfish worth NOK 44 million in June
  • The value increased by NOK 13 million, or 43 per cent, compared with June last year
  • This represents a 30 per cent increase in volume

Herring: New export record in the first half of the year

  • Norway exported 139,517 tonnes of herring worth NOK 2.6 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value increased by NOK 588 million, or 29 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • This represents a 40 per cent increase in volume
  • Poland, Egypt and Lithuania were the largest markets for herring in the first half of the year

This is a new record for the export value of herring in a half-year period, NOK 87 million higher than the previous record half-year, which was in the second half of 2024.

“The record is the result of a 33 per cent increase in the quota for Norwegian spring-spawning herring and a strong winter fishing season, during which 64 per cent more was landed than the previous year,” says Jan Eirik Johnsen, head of pelagic species at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

“If we look at the volume of products exported in the first half of the year, there have been quite significant changes compared with the same period last year,” emphasises Johnsen.

Exports of fresh/chilled whole herring – which are direct landings by Norwegian vessels abroad – have increased by 134 per cent; whole frozen herring has increased by 70 per cent; frozen fillets have increased by 26 per cent; whilst exports of marinated products have fallen by 70 per cent.

“Once again, we see that the fillet markets are more stable and that volumes of frozen whole herring vary to a greater extent depending on availability. The sharp fall in exports of marinated herring products is due to capacity challenges in Norway, and not market conditions,” explains Jan Eirik Johnsen.

Price falls for the major herring products

Egypt is the dominant market for whole frozen herring, accounting for 22,500 tonnes out of 49,000 in the first half of the year. Poland dominates the market for frozen fillets, accounting for 18,500 tonnes out of a total of 49,500 tonnes.

“As a result of a significant increase in the quota and the catch of NVG herring, prices for major products such as skinless fillets and whole frozen herring have fallen in Norwegian kroner,” says Johnsen.

For frozen whole herring, the downward trend from last year has continued. For skinless fillets, the price has fallen from its peak, which was in December 2025.

“The fact that the price in euros is holding up at higher volumes is a sign of strong underlying demand in the markets and must be seen in the context of price rises for many other products,” says Jan Eirik Johnsen.

Here are the figures for herring exports in June

  • Norway exported 19,200 tonnes of herring worth NOK 403 million in June
  • The value increased by NOK 95 million, or 31 per cent, compared with June last year
  • This represents a 33 per cent increase in volume

Mackerel: High prices and low volumes

  • Norway exported 38,344 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 2 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 526 million, or 21 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 51 per cent
  • South Korea, the US and Vietnam were the largest markets for mackerel in the first half of the year

“Mackerel exports in the first half of the year were characterised by low volumes and high prices. The sharp 67 per cent reduction in quotas, low landings from foreign vessels in Norway and a shortage of mackerel to meet demand have sent prices to historic levels,” says Jan Eirik Johnsen, head of pelagic species at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

At the same time, prices are now facing resistance in the markets and demand is slowing down as consumer prices continue to rise.

“In Japan, which is Norway’s largest market for mackerel, supermarket chains report that sales have fallen by between 20 and 50 per cent, but that the value remains reasonably stable as a result of the price rises,” says Johnsen.

Imbalance between supply and demand

The current situation for mackerel is characterised by an imbalance between supply and demand.

“There is not enough mackerel to meet market demand. At the same time, prices are not being driven by demand, but are the result of fierce competition for the raw material. There are limits to how quickly prices can be raised in the markets and whether consumers will accept them. There is now a great deal of anticipation surrounding this year’s mackerel harvest season and the quota advice that ICES will issue on 30 September,” explains Jan Eirik Johnsen.

Here are the figures for mackerel exports in June

  • Norway exported 5,500 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 278 million in June
  • The value increased by NOK 92 million, or 49 per cent, compared with June last year
  • There was a 7 per cent increase in volume

King crab: Sharp drop in volume

  • Norway exported 539 tonnes of king crab worth NOK 317 million in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 266 million, or 46 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 44 per cent
  • The US, Tunisia and Canada were the largest markets for king crab in the first half of the year

“Exports of king crab in the first half of the year were characterised by a sharp decline in volume as a result of reduced quotas, whilst price trends have been mixed. Lower availability is leading to higher prices in US dollars, whilst a weaker dollar is pushing prices down in Norwegian kroner,” says Josefine Voraa, head of shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

For live king crab, volumes fell by 50 per cent, whilst prices rose by 5 per cent in Norwegian kroner.

“The US remains the largest market, but exports have halved. At the same time, Italy is emerging as an important market, with increased volumes and high prices, and is being prioritised in a situation of lower availability,” explains Voraa.

Different customs duties affect competition

Exports of frozen king crab have fallen by 41 per cent in volume.

“The US remains the largest market, but has seen a marked decline that is greater than the overall fall in frozen crab. At the same time, exports to markets such as Tunisia and Canada are increasing, and Japan has taken a larger share of the smaller sizes,” says Josefine Voraa.

The US remains the most important paying market for Norwegian king crab, as the total market has shrunk significantly in recent years following the loss of Russian king crab.

“At the same time, varying customs duties put Norway at a competitive disadvantage, particularly when compared with American king crab from Alaska,” explains Voraa.

“Overall, the trend points towards a tighter and more premium-driven market, where lower volumes mean greater prioritisation of high-price markets, whilst currency effects are exacerbating the negative trend in export value measured in Norwegian kroner,” says Josefine Voraa.

Here are the figures for king crab exports in June

  • Norway exported 184 tonnes of king crab worth NOK 73 million in June
  • The value fell by NOK 19 million, or 20 per cent, compared with June last year
  • The volume fell by 8 per cent

Snow crab: Increased volume growth

  • Norway exported 7,349 tonnes of snow crab worth NOK 1.3 billion in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 152 million, or 11 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • This represents a 16 per cent increase in volume
  • The US, Canada and Denmark were the largest markets for snow crab in the first half of the year

Snow crab exports in the first half of the year were characterised by increased volumes, but a fall in export prices due to price pressure in the market and a stronger Norwegian krone against the dollar.

“The growth in volume is offset by falling prices, particularly in the largest markets,” says Josefine Voraa, head of shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

The US remains by far the most important market, but accounts for a slightly lower share of direct exports than before. At the same time, prices have fallen significantly, down 22 per cent in Norwegian kroner and 13 per cent in US dollars.

Weaker performance in Asian consumer markets

“Although the proportion of exports going directly to the US has fallen slightly, a large proportion of the volume still ends up indirectly in the US market via hubs and processing in third countries,” explains Voraa.

In Asian consumer markets, the trend is weaker, with declines in both Japan and South Korea. Increased competition in the US, partly as a result of lower tariff rates for competitors such as Canada and Alaska, is contributing to further price pressure.

“Overall, the trend points to a changing market, where more of the volume is going towards processing, whilst prices are under pressure from both exchange rates and competitive conditions in the main US market. Taken together, this results in an 11 per cent fall in value,” says Josefine Voraa.

Here are the figures for snow crab exports in June

  • Norway exported 755 tonnes of snow crab worth NOK 119 million in June
  • The value increased by NOK 36 million, or 43 per cent, compared with June last year
  • This represents a 61 per cent increase in volume

Prawns: Significant drop in volume and sharp rise in prices

  • Norway exported 11,107 tonnes of prawns worth NOK 914 million in the first half of the year
  • The value fell by NOK 47 million, or 5 per cent, compared with the first half of last year
  • Volume fell by 35 per cent
  • China, Sweden and Denmark were the largest markets for prawns in the first half of the year

Prawn exports in the first half of the year were characterised by a significant decline in volume, whilst price growth remained high.

“Lower landings and changes in the product mix have helped to tighten the raw material market and push prices up significantly,” says Josefine Voraa, head of shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Frozen peeled prawns remain the largest product category by value, despite a sharp fall in volume to 2,900 tonnes (-43 per cent). At the same time, nominal export prices are at a record high in Norwegian kroner. Sweden is strengthening its position in this segment, whilst exports to the UK are falling sharply.

China is the growth driver

Frozen cooked prawns have fallen to 3,600 tonnes (-46 per cent) and are characterised by lower availability. China remains the largest market, where lower volumes are largely offset by higher prices.

Exports of frozen raw shell-on prawns amount to 4,000 tonnes, with a more moderate volume decline of 17 per cent; it is primarily exports of frozen raw industrial prawns that are falling, whilst those destined for fresh consumption in Asia are increasing.

China is by far the most important driver of growth. Exports of prawns to China have risen to 4,400 tonnes, whilst the value has grown to NOK 318 million (+79 per cent).

“Growth is driven in particular by raw frozen prawns for fresh consumption, where volumes have more than tripled to 2,500 tonnes. Vietnam is also growing as a market for processing for fresh consumption,” explains Josefine Voraa.

For industrial prawns, the picture is the opposite, with a sharp fall in volumes to traditional processing markets such as Iceland, despite high price growth. This indicates increased competition for raw materials and a tighter market.

“Overall, the first half of the year shows a prawn market in flux, where lower landings, increased demand for raw materials and strong price growth are altering both the product mix and market balance,” says Voraa.

Here are the figures for prawn exports in June

  • Norway exported 2,800 tonnes of prawns worth NOK 247 million in June
  • The value increased by NOK 24 million, or 11 per cent, compared with June last year
  • The volume fell by 38 per cent