The total volume of fish and shellfish exported by Iceland in 2023 fell by 8% or 57,000 tonnes, with the value slipping 2% – to 685,000 tonnes and ISK 352.8 billion, according to new figures from Statistics Iceland.
Frozen seafood products were 44% of the export value (ISK 154.8 billion), fresh products were 25% (ISK 88.8 billion) and fishmeal/fish oil about 20% (ISK 70.3 billion). In volume terms, these categories amounted to 311,000 tonnes, 99,000 tonnes and 196,000 tonnes, respectively.
For specific species, the export value of frozen cod products (43,000 tonnes) was highest at ISK 50 billion, while the value of fresh cod (38,000 tonnes) was ISK 55.6 billion. In total, 113,000 tonnes of cod, valued at ISK 136.2 billion was sold to overseas markets last year, down 14% and 4%, respectively.
Haddock totalled 29,000 tonnes and ISK 27.5 billion, saithe – 20,000 tonnes and ISK 15.1 billion, redfish – 30,000 tonnes and ISK 12.9 billion, herring – 123,000 tonnes and ISK 31.9 billion, blue whiting – 40,000 tonnes and ISK 10.6 billion, and mackerel – 62,000 tonnes and ISK 15.5 billion.
The largest quantity of fisheries products was exported to Norway, about 20% of the total exports, which represented 11% of the total export value. The United Kingdom received 13% of the exports, which was 16% of the total export value.
