Norway exported seafood with a total value of NOK 5.3 billion (EUR 574.8 million; USD 641.8 million) last month, an increase of 12 percent or NOK 593 million (EUR 64.3 million; USD 71.8 million) compared with August 2014, confirmed the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
The Scandinavian country’s exports for the first eight months of this year totaled NOK 45.1 billion (EUR 4.9 billion; USD 5.5 billion), an increase of NOK 2.9 billion (EUR 314.5 million; USD 351.1 million) year-on-year.
“Yet another strong month for Norwegian seafood exports is partly explained by the EU, a key region for seafood exports, buying more salmon at higher prices in Norwegian kroner than they did during the same period last year. Also worthy of mention is that the United States bought 30 percent more salmon so far this year compared with the same period in 2014,” said Geir Bakkevoll, communications director at the NSC.
“Growth in cod sales is due to the Portuguese market buying more cod and higher prices compared to the same period in 2014. The overall positive picture is slightly offset by a small decline in the cod quotas for 2015. A further background factor is the currently weak Norwegian kroner, which of course assists exports,” he said.
Norway’s salmon exports in August achieved a value of NOK 3.7 billion (EUR 401.4 million; USD 448 million), an increase of 12 percent or NOK 411 million (EUR 44.6 million; USD 49.8 million) year-on-year. In volume terms, its salmon exports totaled 80,111 metric tons (MT) last month, which was on par with its total in August 2014.
The average price for fresh whole salmon increased from NOK 35.86 (EUR 3.89; USD 4.34) per kg a year ago to NOK 43.33 (EUR 4.70; USD 5.25) per kg last month.
France, Poland and the United Kingdom remained the biggest importers of Norwegian salmon in August.
Norway’s fresh cod exports (including fillets) increased by 37 percent or NOK 17 million (EUR 1.8 million; USD 2.1 million) to a total of NOK 62 million (EUR 6.7 million; USD 7.5 million) in August. However, frozen cod exports fell by 17 percent or NOK 25 million (EUR 2.7 million; USD 3 million) to NOK 122 million (EUR 13.2 million; USD 14.8 million).
The EU is the biggest importer of Norwegian fresh and frozen cod.
In the pelagic trade, meanwhile, Norway’s mackerel exports increased by 72 percent or NOK 36 million (EUR 3.9 million; USD 4.4 million) year-on-year to NOK 86 million (EUR 9.3 million; USD 10.4 million) in August. Its herring exports grew 36 percent or NOK 44 million (EUR 4.8 million; USD 5.3 million) year-on-year to NOK 167 million (EUR 18.1 million; USD 20.2 million).
Nigeria was the country’s biggest mackerel market and Lithuania was the largest export market for herring in August.
