Norwegian seafood exports increased in April

Exports of Norwegian seafood in April totaled NOK 3.7 billion. This is an increase of NOK 340 million or 10% compared to April 2009, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. This year to date, Norwegian seafood exports total NOK 16 billion, an increase of NOK 2.2 billion or 16% compared to the same period last year. These figures mark new export records for both the month of April alone and the January-April period, reports www.megafishnet.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to NSEC.

In the first four months of 2010, exports of Norwegian Cod increased in value by a total of NOK 450 million.

"The growth in seafood exports for the year to date is accounted for by two factors: growth in exports of Norwegian Salmon at higher prices, and overall growth in total exports of Norwegian Cod," explains director of market information Egil Ove Sundheim from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council.

Norwegian Salmon up by NOK 7 in price

At the end of April, the value of exports of Norwegian Salmon for the year to date totalled NOK 8.7 billion, an increase of NOK 2 billion or 31% compared to the same period last year. This growth is accounted for by higher export prices combined with growth in the volume of exports. In April, the value of exports of Norwegian Salmon increased by NOK 373 million or 20%. The average price for whole fresh Norwegian Salmon in April was NOK 38.88, up from NOK 31.98 in April 2009. France, Poland and Russia are the biggest importers of Norwegian Salmon.

Decline in exports of herring and mackerel

In the first four months of 2010, exports of herring declined in value by NOK 173 million or 11% to a total of NOK 1.5 billion. Russia was the biggest importer of herring from Norway, with imports for the period totalling NOK 419 million. In the same period, exports of mackerel fell by NOK 102 million to NOK 435 million. Russia and Turkey are the biggest importers of mackerel from Norway.

Growth in volume of Norwegian Cod exports

In the first four months of 2010, exports of Norwegian Cod increased in value by a total of NOK 450 million. This figure can be broken down as follows:

• Exports of fresh Norwegian Cod increased in value by NOK 131 million or 32% to a total of NOK 541 million
• Exports of frozen Norwegian Cod increased in value by NOK 102 million or 33% to a total of NOK 435 million
• Exports of Norwegian Cod clipfish increased in value by NOK 97 million or 20% to a total of NOK 585 million
• Exports of salted Norwegian Cod increased in value by NOK 191 million or 89% to a total of NOK 404 million
• Exports of Norwegian stockfish declined in value by 30% to a total of NOK 130 million

The volume of exports of Norwegian Cod increased by more than 25,000 tonnes or 63% to a total of 65,000 tonnes.

Contacts at the NSEC:
Director of Market Information and Market Access Egil Ove Sundheim, egil.sundheim@seafood.no
Statistics Manager Jan Ståle Lauritzen, jan-stale.lauritzen@seafood.no