Overall Norwegian exports to China were up 47 percent in value during the period from January to the end of May 2022 compared to same timeframe last year – even with a reduction of 4 percent in volume terms over the same period.
Exports of fresh Norwegian Atlantic salmon to the local market, meanwhile, has so far increased 67 percent in value year-on-year, even while dropping 11 percent in volume.
Most of the volume of Norwegian seafood coming into the Chinese market is for processing and re-export, but the data for salmon shows domestic demand is also strong, Andreas Thorud, the Shanghai-based representative of the Norwegian Seafood Council, told SeafoodSource.
“It is clear that the local COVID-19 situation that started to escalate in March, particularly in Shanghai, but also with a COVID-19 restriction spill-over to other cities, has very negatively impacted the HORECA segment in key markets such as Shanghai and Beijing,” Thorud said. “Yet, given these headwinds in certain areas of the local market, there has been quite some resilience in the demand for Norwegian salmon during the last months. Moreover, the COVID-19 situation in general has improved, and a further normalization in HORECA markets in Shanghai and Beijing would likely contribute to an increase in demand. However, the situation still remains uncertain in the short-term, and the risk of possible sudden flare-ups of COVID-19 outbreaks adds complexity to the market situation, from both a demand-side as well as logistics operations.”
As for access to Chinese ports, Thorud said that “Norwegian seafood seems to be passing through the ports in China under the ‘new normal’ established locally during the pandemic.”
“In other words, it takes longer than in the pre-pandemic era due to coronavirus testing, disinfection, and other relevant measures introduced. Yet, the situation may change on short notice if specific local outbreaks happen, and further measures or consequences of measures impact the process of getting goods into the market,” Thorud said.
Photo courtesy of TemporalStreet/Shutterstock
