Norway exported 165,000 metric tons (MT) of fisheries and aquaculture products worth NOK 7.5 billion (USD 963.5 million, EUR 806.9 million) to overseas markets last month, with the volume 2 percent higher than in August 2016 and the value up 7 percent or NOK 501 million (USD 64.4 million, EUR 53.9 million) year-on-year, according to new figures published by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
For the first eight months of this year, Norway exported 1.6 million MT of seafood worth NOK 60.6 billion (USD 7.8 billion, EUR 6.5 billion), representing an increase in volume of 6 percent and a rise in value of 8 percent or NOK 4.4 billion (USD 565.3 million, EUR 473.2 million) year-on-year.
The Scandinavian country’s whitefish trade has been one of the standout performers so far this year, particularly on the frozen side, with NSC analyst Ingrid Kristine Pettersen confirming that 21 percent more cod, saithe and haddock was exported in August compared with the same month last year.
This had contributed to a value increase of 11 percent to a total of NOK 10 billion (USD 1.3 billion, EUR 1.1 billion) so far this year, she said.
Last month’s fresh cod shipments from Norway, including fillets, increased by 20 percent to 2,100 MT with a value of NOK 76 million (USD 9.8 million, EUR 8.2 million) – a rise of 13 percent. For the first eight months of the year, these exports amounted to 58,200 MT with a value of NOK 1.9 billion (USD 244 million, EUR 204.4 million), representing year-on-year increases of 9 percent and 10 percent respectively.
Norway’s frozen cod exports in August, meanwhile, amounted to 8,300 MT with a value of NOK 251 million (USD 32.2 million, EUR 27 million) – up 54 percent and 57 percent respectively. So far this year, it has exported 54,200 MT of frozen cod, including fillets, valued at NOK 1.8 billion (USD 231.1 million, EUR 193.6 million), up 4 percent and 7 percent respectively.
Denmark and Spain were the largest recipients of Norwegian fresh cod last month, while China and the United Kingdom were the main markets for its frozen cod.
NSC also highlighted that 55,000 MT of clipfish valued at NOK 2.4 billion (USD 308.2 million, EUR 258.1 million) has been exported so far this year, representing a volume increase of 19 percent and a value rise of 16 percent. For the same period, Norwegian salted fish exports fell by 5 percent in volume to 22,300 MT but increased in value by 2 percent to NOK 987 million (USD 126.7 million, EUR 106.2 million).
Portugal continued to be the No. 1 market for both products last month.
