August Sees Historically High Codfish Exports from Norway

In August, exports of codfish, including clipfish, salted fish and dried cod, totalled NOK 915.7 million, representing an increase of NOK 182 million, or 25%, on August last year, according to figures from the NSEC. Never before has the value of codfish exports been so high, either for the month of August or for the period so far this year. Exports from January until the end of August amounted to a total of NOK 7.3 billion, according to NSEC.

"The strong growth in export value is mainly due to high demand for frozen whole cod, saithe and haddock, in combination with increased prices for clipfish", says market analyst Kjell-Åge Rognli at NSEC.

Clipfish worth NOK 299 million was exported in August, representing an increase of 17.7%, or NOK 45.2 million, on the same month in 2010. A total of 7,870 tonnes of clipfish were exported in August, 455 tonnes more than August 2010. Clipfish from cod increased in value by NOK 37.6 to a total of NOK 155 million, while clipfish from saithe increased by NOK 3.1 million to NOK 106.6 million.

Portugal was the largest recipient of cod clipfish in August, importing clipfish for NOK 113 million, an increase on the same month last year of more than 65%. In volumes, this amounted to 2,350 tonnes, an increase of 43.8% on August 2010.

Export record for frozen whole fish

Export of frozen whole cod from the fisheries amounted to NOK 255 million in August, representing an increase of 81.7%, or NOK 114.7 million, on the same month in 2010. This is the highest value ever for the month of August. Frozen whole haddock is the product that increased most, with an export value of NOK 96.7 million in August, an increase of 181% or NOK 62.4 million on the same month last year. Frozen whole cod and saithe have also advanced, with sales increases of, respectively, 108% and 80%. Frozen codfish fillets increased by NOK 23.3 million in August, to a total of NOK 87.8 million. The growth is mainly due to cod and haddock fillets, with increases of, respectively, NOK 20 and 14 million.

Exports of whole fresh fish from the fisheries increased by 3.5% on the same month last year, reaching a total of NOK 95,3 million. Frozen whole haddock showed a sales increase in the period of more than 14.3%, or NOK 2.6 million, to a total of NOK 21.5 million. Frozen whole cod fell by 2.7% to a total of NOK 17.8 million.

Reduction for farmed fish

Exports of farmed fish were worth NOK 14.1 million in August, a reduction of more than 50% on the same month last year. Fresh whole cod represented the decrease virtually alone, with a reduction of NOK 12.7 million.