February 2002:
Reports from the Japanese branch of the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NESC), said that total reports imports from Norway to Japan in 2001 reached 258,500 tonnes, or 1.3% less than in 2000, worth NOK 4.1 billion.
Salmon remained Norway’s major export to Japan accounting for 38,133 tonnes. This was approximately the same as the previous year although there was a 14.1% decline in value to NOK 1.35 billion. This was a result of increased global production.
Japan imported 32,679 tonnes of trout from Norway during 2001 which was a 49.9% increase worth NOK 811 million which was a 4.4% increase in value from 2000.
Mackerel imports were down 8.1% to 141,993 tonnes.
The report also said that imports of shrimp, Greenland halibut and herring were all down in both volume and value.
Salmon agreements between Norway and the EU continued. The European Commission planned to levy a EUR 0.40 per kilo penal duty on salmon from non-EU nations. Meanwhile Norway was keen to have a EUR 3.25 minimum price on fresh Norwegian salmon. Norway’s plans were later turned down by EU negotiators.
March 2002:
Salmon prices begin to rise again. In the second week of March salmon farmers received NOK 21 per kilo of Atlantic salmon which was up from NOK 20.50 just in the previous week. This trend meant that salmon prices were likely to rise above the minimum price stated in the Norway-EU agreement.
Noway withdraws its minimum price initiative after negotiations break down. Higher salmon prices and a threat of a 14% penal duty threat from the EU were the main reasons for withdrawal.
April 2002:
As part of plans to develop fisheries co-operation between Norway and Poland, Norwegian Fisheries Minister Svein Ludvigsen announced plans to visit Gdynia in Poland. The future co-operation between Poland and Norway in the field of pelagic fish trade was high on the agenda.
Once it has entered the EU, Poland will have to pay common tarrif duties which would mean that Polish processing plants would have to pay more for herring, mackerel and salmon.
Reports said that Norway was a strategic exporter of pelagic fish to Poland. In 2001 Polish companies imported more than NOK 600 million worth of herring, more than NOK 250 million of mackerel and close to NOK 150 million worth of salmon from Norway.
Also in April Lisabeth Berg-Hansen was elected new Chairwoman of the Norwegian Fish Farmers Association (FHL HAVBRUK). One of the issues she was tasked with dealing with was the protection plan for wild salmon. She said: “We want to protect wild salmon but we must be sure that the protective measures actually work.”
The EU antidumping committee voted against a proposal from the EC to implement a penal duty on fresh, Norwegian farmed salmon.
According to reports Norway’s roe capelin production reached 25,000 tonnes. The year’s production ended before Easter and the valuable capelin roe has been produced at Norway’s processing plants. The capelin roe was said to be of high quality but at the time reports suggested that it would take some time to sell.
It was announced in April by Norwegian Fisheries Minister Svein Ludvigsen that Norway was intending to take part in the development of Northern Russian fish processing companies.
There is already a joint venture in Murmansk, with participation from Norwegian companies and it was reported that Norway wanted to get involved in development of aquaculture.
Norway’s fish sector is the country’s second largest in terms of export volume, for which reason fishing and processing companies have free capital. Russia has become a very important market for Norway. Salmon exports reached a value of NOK 311 million during 2001. In the first three month’s of 2002 salmon exports to Russia increased by 25%. Also during 2001, Russia was Norway’s seventh largest seafood market, total value of exports reached NOK 1.483 billion.
Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik promised the industry that he would fight’ for market access for Norwegian seafood. It was reported that Norway would sacrifice agricultural interests for improved market access for seafood in the EU, but this was dismissed by the Government.
AS far as the international food market was concerned, Norway wants free access for its seafood products, while on the other hand its agricultural interests are protected through trade barriers.
