The export value of Norwegian seafood has reached an all-time high for the first half of 2020.
In the first six months of this year, Norway exported seafood with a value of NOK52.9 billion, an increase of 3.5 measured against the first half of 2019.
“Despite a very challenging spring with the corona crisis, we have still seen growth in seafood exports in the first half of the year,” said Renate Larsen, chief executive of the Norwegian Seafood Council. “Salmon, trout, herring and mackerel have increased the most compared to the first half of 2019. A weak Norwegian krone is the main factor driving growth,” she added.
Although the overall picture shows growth, Renate Larsen emphasised that several species have experienced a decline in value, such as fresh cod, prawn and king crab. Three factors in particular have contributed to this, these being the near global shutdown of the hotel and restaurant segment, fewer flights and bad weather in the main season for fresh cod which resulted in reduced catches.
The Minister of Fisheries and Seafood, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, welcomed the news. “A new record for seafood exports in the first half of the year is both gratifying and impressive,” he said. “The seafood industry contributes to jobs along our entire coast. Even though the krone exchange rate plays in, the recent figures show that the industry has so far managed well through the corona crisis,” he added.
