Norwegian seafood exports reached a record NOK 40.4 billion (USD 7 billion, EUR 4.8 billion) in the first 11 months of 2009, up 15 percent from the same 11-month period in 2008 and surpassing last year’s 12-month total, the Norwegian Seafood Export Council reported on Wednesday.
In November alone, Norwegian seafood exports amounted to NOK 4.8 billion (USD 832,300, EUR 565,300), up NOK 500 million from November 2008.
“It is very pleasing to note a new annual record for seafood exports, especially as early as November and in good time before the traditionally strong Christmas sales have come to a close,” said Egil Ove Sundheim, the council’s director of market information. “This shows that the demand for Norwegian seafood products remains very robust in an international market severely marked by the economic instability that has seen many other export sectors suffer.”
What’s more, Norwegian salmon exports hit a monthly record NOK 2.2 billion (USD 381,500, EUR 259,100) in November, up NOK 500 million from November 2008, thanks to increasing output and prices.
Also in November, Norwegian trout exports fell 18 percent to NOK 163 million (USD 28 million, EUR 19 million), while herring exports increased 8 percent to NOK 662 million (USD 115 million, EUR 78 million) and clipfish exports grew 5 percent to NOK 287 million (USD 50 million, EUR 34 million).
