Norwegian seafood exports reached a record NOK 9 billion (USD 1.62 billion, EUR 1.16 billion) in January and February, up 17 percent from the same two-month period last year, the Norwegian Seafood Export Council reported on Sunday.
In February alone, Norwegian seafood exports totaled a record NOK 4.8 billion, up 15 percent from February 2010.
The culprit, as expected, is high salmon prices, which are “the greatest driver for growth in seafood exports,” said Egil Ove Sundheim, the council’s market information director. He also pointed to strengthening demand for whitefish, herring and mackerel.
At the end of February, Norwegian salmon exports held steady at 111,000 metric tons, but its value increased to NOK 4.7 billion. So far this year, the price for whole fresh salmon has increased by NOK 8.60 to an average of NOK 39.46. In February, the price topped out at NOK 40.46.
Though France remains the No. 1 market for Norwegian salmon, importing NOK 670 million worth of the product in January and February, up 21 percent from last year, Russia is showing enormous growth potential. The country imported NOK 149 million worth of Norwegian salmon in January and February, up 46 percent from 2010.
