Norway exported seafood worth NOK 28.8 billion (USD 3.5 billion, EUR 3.1 billion) in the first four months of this year, which represented an increase of 26 percent or NOK 5.9 billion (USD 723.9 million, EUR 630.5 million) compared to the same period of 2015.
“Norwegian seafood exports are booming. By volume, exports are slightly down during the first four months of this year, but by value we see a gain of NOK 5.9 billion compared with the same period last year. This is due to strong demand and high prices for Norwegian seafood, combined with a continuing favorable currency situation,” said Geir Havard Hanssen, communications director with the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
Salmon and trout have been the main contributors to strong export growth, said Hanssen. Salmon has seen average prices of NOK 56.81 (USD 6.97, EUR 6.07) per kg so far this year, compared with an average price of NOK 41.89 (USD 5.14, EUR 4.48) in the same period last year.
“We have seen strong numbers for April, an increase of 35 percent year-on-year. Part of the explanation for this is the early Easter holiday and so less holidays during the April month, compared with last year,” he said.
Norway’s salmon exports were worth NOK 18.2 billion (USD 2.3 billion, EUR 1.9 billion) during the first four months of 2016, an increase of 25 percent or NOK 3.7 billion (USD 453.9 million, EUR 395.4 million) year-on-year.
In April alone, these exports totaled NOK 4.9 billion (USD 601 million, EUR 523.6 million), an increase of 40 percent or NOK 1.4 billion (USD 171.7 million, EUR 149.6 million) compared with the same month last year.
The average price for whole fresh Norwegian salmon last month was NOK 57.39 (USD 7.04, EUR 6.13) per kg, up from NOK 39.89 (USD 4.89, EUR 4.26) per kg in April 2015.
Poland and France were the biggest buyers of Norwegian salmon during the first quarter.
Meanwhile, trout exports in the first four months of 2016 totaled NOK 1.3 billion (USD 159.4 million, EUR 138.9 million), an increase of 117 percent or NOK 704 million (USD 86.3 million, EUR 75.2 million) year-on-year.
This year, the biggest buyers of Norwegian trout have been Belarus and Japan.
