Norway exported seafood worth NOK 6.6 billion (USD 777.8 million, EUR 701.9 million) last month, an increase of 15 percent or NOK 882 million (USD 103.9 million, EUR 93.8 million) compared with July 2015. So far this year, the Scandinavian country’s exports have totaled NOK 49.2 billion (USD 5.8 billion, EUR 5.2 billion), representing an increase of 24 percent or NOK 9.5 billion (USD 1.1 billion, EUR 1 billion), compared to the first seven months of last year.
“July proved to be a good summer month for Norwegian seafood exports. Exports of salmon and trout totaled NOK 5.1 billion (USD 601.2 million, EUR 542.4 million), an increase of 28 percent from July last year. The higher salmon prices were the result of strong demand coupled with lower volumes. Although exports of clipfish declined in July, the month did reflect good prices for both fresh and frozen cod,” said Jan Stale Lauritzen, statistics manager with the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
As well as NOK 342 million (USD 40.3 million, EUR 36.4 million) worth of farmed trout – an increase of 69 percent or NOK 140 million (USD 16.5 million, EUR 14.9 million) compared to July 2015, Norway exported NOK 4.8 billion (USD 565.8 million, EUR 510.5 million) worth of farmed salmon last month, which was 25 percent or NOK 965 million (USD 113.7 million, EUR 102.6 million) more than a year previously.
With salmon volumes down this year, this increased value was thanks to much higher prices. The average price for fresh whole Norwegian salmon last month was NOK 66.40 (USD 7.83, EUR 7.06) per kg, compared with NOK 43.96 (USD 5.18, EUR 4.68) per kg in July 2015.
Last month’s overall total also included NOK 72 million (USD 8.5 million, EUR 7.7 million) worth of fresh cod exports (up 9 percent), NOK 208 million (USD 24.5 million, EUR 22.1 million) of frozen cod (up 16 percent) and NOK 204 million (USD 24 million, EUR 21.7 million) worth of herring (up 7 percent).
However, as highlighted by the NSC, its clipfish exports decreased 11 percent or NOK 27 million (USD 3.2 million, EUR 2.9 million) year-on-year to NOK 221 million (USD 26.1 million, EUR 23.5 million). So far this year, Norway’s clipfish exports have totaled NOK 1.9 billion (USD 224 million, EUR 202.1 million), a decline of 12 percent or NOK 258 million (USD 30.4 million, EUR 27.4 million) year-on-year.
