Norway exported herring, mackerel and capelin worth NOK 1.8 billion (USD 220.5 million, EUR 194.6 million) in the first-quarter of 2016, which represented an increase of 60 percent year-on-year.
Both herring and mackerel recorded particularly strong results in the period, with exports of the former up 74 percent to NOK 862 million (USD 105.6 million, EUR 93.2 million), and mackerel exports up 44 percent to NOK 777 million (USD 95.2 million, EUR 84 million).
“The increase in export values of pelagic fish in the first quarter is a result of both higher export volumes and higher prices,” said Paul Aandahl, analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
Some 41,000 metric tons (MT) of frozen whole herring was exported in Q1, an increase of 56 percent year-on-year. At the same time, the average price of this product increased by 20 percent to NOK 9.20 (USD 1.13, EUR 0.99) per kg. The main markets for frozen whole herring were Ukraine and Egypt.
Also in Q1, Norway exported 24,000 MT of frozen herring fillet products, an increase of 34 percent. The average price of this product increased 24 percent year-on-year to NOK 16.97 (USD 2.08, EUR 1.83) per kg. Germany and Poland were the largest markets for sales of frozen herring fillets in the period.
Meanwhile, 69,000 MT of frozen whole mackerel were exported in the quarter, an increase of 43 percent year-on-year. The average price of frozen whole mackerel in Q1 was NOK 10.85 (USD 1.33, EUR 1.17) per kg, an increase of 4 percent. The largest markets were Nigeria and Japan, which imported 8,000 MT and 7,800 MT respectively.
In addition, 16,000 MT of frozen capelin was exported in the quarter, which represented an increase of 12 percent. The average price of frozen whole capelin in this period was NOK 5.26 (USD 0.64, EUR 0.57) per kg, up 59 percent. Most of these exports went to China and Lithuania.
