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NORWEGIAN SEAFOOD EXPORT VALUES SOAR

NORWEGIAN SEAFOOD EXPORT VALUES SOAR

Norwegian seafood export values soar. In January 2019, Norway exported 200,600 tonnes of seafood worth NOK 8.6 billion. This is a reduction of 7,700 tonnes or 4 per cent in volume but an increase of NOK 992 million or 13 per cent in value compared with January 2018.

Says Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, Director for Market Insight and Access, with the Norwegian Seafood Council: “2018 was a record year for seafood exports, and we begin the new year with strong numbers. Seafood export values have never been higher during the month of January. Increased demand has led to price increases for salmon and a growth in export value of NOK 695 million to reach a record figure of NOK 5.7 billion for salmon exports in January.

“The skrei season (high quality cod from the Arctic) is now underway, which, combined with strong growth for frozen cod, has also helped to make this January the strongest January ever recorded for whitefish exports.

“This means that we are seeing a net increase of almost NOK 1 billion compared with January 2018.”

The relationship between fisheries and aquaculture remains more or less the same as January 2018. Aquaculture contributes to 70 per cent of seafood exports by value, and 45 per cent by volume. The value of aquaculture exports has increased by 13 percent, while export volumes are at the same level as last year.

For fisheries, year-on-year export value has increased by 8 per cent, while export volume has reduced by 8 per cent.

In January, 86,000 tonnes of salmon were exported with a value of NOK 5.7 billion. This is an increase in volume of 1,800 tonnes, or 2 per cent, while export value has increased by NOK 700 million or 14 per cent compared with January last year. The average price for fresh whole salmon in January was NOK 62.93 per kg compared with NOK 56.99 per kg in January 2018. Poland, France and the United States were the largest markets for Norwegian salmon.

In January, the US was the market that saw the strongest growth in value. Increased exports of fresh and frozen fillets have driven this growth. Strong growth in exports to Poland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which to a large extent process salmon for consumption in other EU markets.

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