The Norwegian Seafood Council has issued figures for its exports to the U.K. for the first quarter of 2013, and the council has called the results “positive,” despite cod, haddock and prawn export values down compared to last year.
Salmon values, according to the council, are up 29 percent to NOK 1.1 million (USD 189,405, EUR 144,750), this in spite of a one percent drop in volume compared to 1Q of 2013. High demand for the salmon, the council said, is keeping prices higher, and prices are expected to stay where they are for the rest of the year.
Other major species, on the other hand, showed a drop in value. Cod exports, despite a 19 percent increase in volume, dropped 20 percent in value compared to 1Q 2012 to NOK 143,119 (USD 24,640, EUR 18,829). The council blamed the decrease on a 1 million metric ton (MT) cod quota for the Barents Sea in 2013, which led to more landings, and a glut of product.
Haddock values dropped too, by 10 percent to NOK 9,381 (USD 1,615, EUR 1,234), and prawn export values dropped by 18.5 percent to NOK 3,814 (USD 657, EUR 502). Despite these drops, Johan Kvalheim, the council’s U.K. and France director, was pleased with the figures.
“This is a very positive start to 2013,” he said. “While volume and value decreases can appear negative, that is not the case once they are placed in context of the whole market. For instance, haddock will always see volume and value fluctuations as it is a seasonal fish and we were fully expecting a volume increase/value decrease for cod in light of the 33 percent increase in the Barents Sea cod quotas to 1 million MT.”
