Norway’s seafood exports to China were set back by the reported discovery of coronavirus on a salmon cutting board at a Beijing wholesale market in June.
But the crisis, which led to depressed sales of salmon in the country, should abate by September, Victoria Braathen, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s China representative, told SeafoodSource.
From January to July 2020, Norway exported approximately 11,000 metric tons of salmon to China, a decrease of 22 percent compared with the same period in 2019, Braathen said.
“Based on recent trade figures, we can see that Norwegian salmon to China has been affected by the incident in Beijing in June,” Braathen said.
Overall, salmon imports to China have dropped by 28 percent so far this year, according to import figures from China Customs for the first half of the year. The worst damage came in June, after Chinese consumers turned away from salmon following the Xinfadi wholesale market outbreak.
Norwegian exports of salmon to China in the 34th week of 2020 totaled 173 tons, up 14 percent on the previous month but down 55 percent year-on-year.
“In the spring season, development for Norwegian salmon as well as other seafood products to the market showed a rising trend,” Braathen said.
Cod, mackerel, and cold-water prawns are among Norwegian species showing “an overall positive development to China” in the year to-date, Braathen said. Market demand across all categories “will further resume as we enter September and leading up to the Chinese holiday seasons,” she added.
As to reports of a slowdown in China's Customs checks, Braathen said
“Generally, the understanding is that the logistics is working well, circumstances considering," she said. "We do understand that seafood in general – and fresh in particular – are subject to increasing inspection and checks, and that this may cause some extended handling time.”
This week, 19 Norwegian seafood exporters will join the 2020 World Seafood Shanghai “through digital communications and representation.” The NSC has also compiled an online catalog of Norwegian seafood products.
“Together with Norwegian seafood exporters having local representation in China, we look forward to joining the expo with the Norwegian Seafood Pavilion,” Braathen said.
Photo courtesy of jack_photo/Shutterstock
