Norway seafood exports set record

Norwegian seafood exports reached a record NOK 44.7 billion (USD 7.8 billion, EUR 5.4 billion) in 2009, up NOK 6 billion (USD 1 billion, EUR 731 million) from 2008, the Norwegian Seafood Export Council reported on Wednesday. That’s the sixth consecutive year Norwegian seafood exports have set a record.

In terms of volume, the country’s seafood exports totaled 2.6 million metric tons last year, up 268,000 metric tons from the previous year.

France and Russia were Norway’s No. 1 and No. 2 seafood export markets in 2009, at NOK 4.7 billion and NOK 4.6 billion, respectively. The United States ranked No. 9 but saw the largest increase in Norwegian seafood imports, at NOK 1.8 billion in 2009, up NOK 879 million from 2008.

“The demand for Norwegian seafood in 2009 has exceeded all expectations, and the demand for Norwegian salmon in particular has contributed significantly to the total value of exports,” said Terje Martinussen, the council’s managing director. “For many years, the Norwegian salmon industry has strengthened its market position through a strong focus on market development, product development and efficient production aimed at a global customer mass.”

In fact, Norwegian exports of farmed salmon and trout increased NOK nearly 6 billion to NOK 25.6 billion (USD 4.5 billion, EUR 3.2 billion) in 2009 and represented 58 percent of the country’s total seafood exports.

Norwegian exports of herring, haddock, saithe clipfish and capelin also set records in 2009. Herring exports led the way at NOK 4 billion, followed by haddock and saithe clipfish exports at NOK 1.1 billion apiece and capelin exports at NOK 571 million.

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