Norway’s seafood export value dropped in April 2026 as external factors like the war in the Middle East and the increased value of the Norwegian krone compared to the U.S. dollar and Euro weighed on results.
Norway exported seafood valued NOK 13.4 billion (USD 1.44 billion, EUR 1.23 billion) in April 2026, a drop of NOK 742 million (USD 79.8 million, EUR 67.9 million), or 5 percent, compared to the same month of 2025. The decrease has a few caveats, as April 2025 was a record month for Norwegian seafood exports, and when measured by other currencies the drop in value is lower due to the strengthened krone.
Outside the currency shifts, Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) CEO Christian Chramer said the war in the Middle East is impacting sales.
“The war in the Middle East is having a particular impact on the flow of salmon and trout, with higher transport costs, reduced shipping capacity and reduced tourism,” he said. “Exports fell to all markets in the Middle East in April, as well as to a number of Asian markets.”
As a result, Norway’s salmon exports to several markets dropped during the month, including Japan with a 33 percent drop, Israel with a 36 percent drop, Vietnam with a 24 percent drop, Saudi Arabia with a 27 percent drop, the United Arab Emirates with a 44 percent drop, and the Philippines with a 66 percent drop.
“Uncertainty over future tariff conditions and a weaker dollar contributed to the decline in exports to the U.S. continuing in April as well,” Chramer said.
Seafood exports to the U.S. fell 30 percent by value to NOK 973 million (USD 104.6 million, EUR 89.1 million), as volumes of both salmon and trout exported to the country dropped. So far in 2026, exports to the U.S. have dropped 32 percent, or NOK 2 billion (USD 215.0 million, EUR 183.0 million), by value.
On the opposite trajectory is China, which once again saw a high growth in value in April 2026, the NSC said. China's export value in April 2026 increased by NOK 324 million (USD 34.8 million, EUR 29.7 million), or 36 percent, compared to April 2025. Volumes increased by 24 percent to 16,217 metric tons (MT).
NSC Seafood Analyst Paul Aandahl said higher freight costs, customs duties, and a weaker dollar in the U.S. resulted in salmon exports shifting toward European markets in April. Exports to Europe accounted for 66 percent of all salmon exports, an increase of 3 percent, and exports to China climbed to making up 10 percent of all of Norway's salmon exports, a similar 3 percent increase. Those exports were shifting from Asia, excluding China and the U.S., which dropped by 2 percent and 4 percent respectively.
Overall, salmon exports increased 1 percent by volume to 104,894 MT, but dropped in value by NOK 348 million (USD 37.4 million, EUR 31.9 million) to NOK 9.3 billion (USD 1.0 billion, EUR 851.2 million).
"Overall, it is the currency effect that is the main reason for the negative trend in salmon exports in April," Aandahl said.
Compared to salmon trout, values stayed relatively flat, with Norway exporting trout worth NOK 551 million (USD 59.2 million, EUR 50.4 million) in April 2026, a decrease of just NOK 4 million (USD 0.4 million, EUR 0.4 million). That flat value was despite a 7 percent drop in volume.
Outside trout and salmon, many other species exports were hit by low volumes, including cod, mackerel, and prawns.
"Higher prices helped to cushion the fall in value, but the export value is falling significantly for all wild-caught species," Chramer said.
Fresh cod export volumes in April 2026 were at the lowest level since 2009, with just 3,129 MT of exports worth NOK 305 million (USD 32.8 million, EUR 27.9 million), a drop of 23 percent and 4 percent respectively.
"Lower quotas and landings have characterized the entire cod season, and this is clearly reflected in the export figures for April as well," NSC Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan said.
Fresh wild cod exports fell 24 percent to 2,048 MT, while fresh farmed cod exports fell 22 percent to 1,080 MT. While farmed cod volumes are dropping and made up only 28 percent of total fresh cod exports in April, Brækkan said biomass is high, "therefore expect that the export volume will eventually also increase as the year progresses."
Frozen cod exports also dropped in April 2026, falling to 1,919 MT worth NOK 193 million (USD 20.8 million, EUR 17.7 million), a decrease of 45 percent and 30 percent respectively.
"All our key export markets for frozen cod saw a decline in export volumes in April," Brækkan said.
Mackerel exports also dropped. Norway exported 3,952 MT of mackerel worth NOK 217 million (USD 23.3 million, EUR 19.9 million) in April, a drop of 60 percent and 34 percent respectively.
"The trend of low export volumes continues, whilst the price remains stable at around NOK 50 [USD 5.37, EUR 4.57] per kilogram for whole frozen mackerel. With just under 4,000 MT, we must go back to 2011 to find lower export volumes," NSC Head of Pelagic Species Jan Eirik Johnsen said.
Prawn exports also saw drops in value and volume. Norway exported 1,531 MT of prawns worth NOK 126 million (USD 13.5 million, EUR 11.5 million) in April 2026, a drop of 48 percent and 23 percent respectively. That drop was mainly due to lower volumes, NSC Head of Shellfish Josefine Voraa said.
"Developments in the prawn market must also be viewed in the context of an international situation characterized by lower available volumes of cold-water prawns and increased costs in the fishing sector," Voraa said. "Export prices for frozen, peeled prawns remain at a record high, but export volumes to the main markets are falling."
Not every wild caught species is in decline. Herring exports saw big increases in April 2026, and Norway exported 13,871 MT of herring worth NOK 290 million (USD 31.2 million, EUR 26.5 million), an increase of 51 percent and 53 percent, respectively.
Johnsen attributed the increase to a good herring catch in autumn of last year as a reason for strong export volumes, and the North Sea herring season is currently underway with a higher quota than in 2025.
"It is positive that the results from completed surveys provide a basis for higher quotas," Johnsen said. "For the pelagic industry, and particularly the onshore processing sector, the low quotas for many key species are challenging, so any positive news is welcomed."
