”After two years of continuous growth, salmon exports in October have flattened out. This contrasts with record figures for exports of cod and mackerel, and for Norwegian seafood as a whole. Seafood exports continue to grow despite the loss of the Russian market and illustrates Norway's competitive advantage with seafood from both fisheries and aquaculture. Larger volumes of mackerel, combined with better prices and larger volumes of cod were the key contributors to October´s record figures,” says Christian Chramer, communications director for the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Small decline in salmon sales
Norway salmon exports were worth NOK 4 billion in October. This is a decrease of NOK 130 million, or 3 per cent, compared with October 2013. Year-to-date salmon exports total NOK 35.8 billion, an increase of NOK 4.5 billion, or 14 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013. The average price for whole fresh Norwegian salmon in the month of October was NOK 35.82 per kg compared with NOK 37.55 per kg in October 2013. Poland and France remain the largest buyers of salmon from Norway.
Exports of trout in October were down by NOK 251 million. A decrease of NOK 7 million or 3 per cent from October 2013. Year-to-date sales for trout are NOK 2 billion. An increase of NOK 128 million, or 7 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013. The biggest markets for Norwegian trout in October 2014 were Japan and Belarus.
Herring exports down, mackerel exports up
Exports of herring fell by NOK 185 million, or 61 per cent in October to a total value of NOK 121 million. So far this year, herring exports are NOK 1.9 billion. This represents a decrease of NOK 327 million, compared with the same period in 2013. Ukraine and Lithuania were the largest markets for herring in October 2014.
Mackerel exports increased by NOK 318 million to an October total of NOK 1.6 billion. The value of mackerel exports this year have reached NOK 3.3 billion, an increase of NOK 968 compared with the same period in 2013. Japan and China were the largest export markets for mackerel in October.
Strong growth for clipfish and salted fish
Clipfish exports increased by NOK 163 million in October to a total value of NOK 508 million. This represents an increase of 47 per cent compared with October 2013. This includes NOK 301 million in cod, NOK 157 million in saithe, with the remaining contributions from ling, tusk and other groundfish. The largest market for clipfish of cod in October is Portugal, while Brazil is the main market for clipfish fish derived from saithe.
Exports of salted fish, including fillets, increased by NOK 20 million in October to a new total of NOK 73 million. Of this, NOK 57 million is from exports of cod. Portugal was the biggest market for salted fish in October.
Exports of fresh and frozen cod both increasing
Exports of fresh cod from fisheries, including fillets, increased by NOK 30 million in October to a total export value of NOK 69 million. In October, exports of frozen cod, including fillet, grew by NOK 109 million to an October total of NOK 291 million. 99 per cent of fresh cod sales are to the EU. For frozen cod, 47 per cent of sales are to the EU and 49 per cent are to China.
