Norway’s seafood exports are soaring, thanks in part to a spike in salmon exports to Asia and the U.S.A.
Overall seafood exports climbed 13 percent to 636,000 tons of seafood worth NOK 24.1 billion (USD 2.8 billion, EUR 2.6 billion) in the first quarter of this year, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council. Plus the value of the country’s salmon exports surged 21 percent in the quarter to NOK 16.1 billion (USD 1.9 billion, EUR 1.8 billion).
In addition, the average price for fresh whole salmon increased from NOK 56.63 (USD 6.57, EUR 6.17) per kg. to NOK 65.44 (USD 7.59, EUR 7.13) per kg.
”The growth in value for Norwegian seafood continues. After the first quarter, we see that exports of salmon to the EU have grown in value, despite a volume decline of five percent. Salmon exports to Asia and the United States increased by 29 percent in volume,” said Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, director of market insight at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Asia will continue to capture a larger share of salmon export market as soon as market access for Norwegian salmon to China is normalized, said Sigmund Bjørgo, Seafood Council fisheries delegate in China.
In Europe, the value of exports has risen by as much as 11 percent.
“Consumers are now experiencing price increases in almost all EU markets. This has led to reduced volumes. The main reason is that fewer consumers are buying salmon today compared to a year ago,” said Paul T. Aandahl, salmon and trout analyst for the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Poland, France and the United States were the biggest importers of salmon from Norway in the first quarter.
“Despite the price increases in the first quarter, export volumes are still increasing sharply to Asia and the U.S.,” Aandahl said.
Fresh whole cod, bacalao, herring and mackerel also contributed to the growth in value of seafood exports during the quarter.
