In 2009, Norwegian Seafood exports totalled NOK 44.7 billion and for the sixth year in a row sets a new seafood export record.

In 2009, Norwegian Seafood exports totalled NOK 44.7 billion and for the sixth year in a row sets a new seafood export record. Characteristic of 2009 is a slight increase for fisheries and a strong growth in aquaculture. Credit: NSEC.

Compared with 2008, exports are up by no less than NOK 6 billion, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. The volume of seafood exports totalled 2.6 million tonnes, an increase of 268,000 tonnes compared with 2008. This is equal to 35 million meals of Norwegian Seafood every day.

France and Russia remain biggest markets

Exports to France totalled NOK 4.7 billion in 2009, an increase of NOK 668 million compared with 2008. This places France as Norway’s biggest market in 2009, followed by Russia in second place with an export value of NOK 4.6 billion, up by NOK 662 million from 2008. In terms of value, the USA has shown the biggest growth with an increase of NOK 879 million. For the year 2009, seafood exports to the USA totalled NOK 1.8 billion, positioning the USA as the ninth most important seafood market. Portugal showed the biggest decline in the value of seafood exports, down by NOK 425 million to end at NOK 1.6 billion. Seafood exports to the EU increased by NOK 3.2 billion to a total of NOK 26.4 billion, equal to 59% of total seafood exports.

Strong growth in aquaculture

In 2009, Norwegian exports of farmed seafood increased by NOK 5.9 billion to NOK 26 billion, equal to 58% of total seafood exports. Of this, Norwegian Salmon accounts for NOK 23.7 billion and Norwegian Fjord Trout accounts for NOK 1.9 billion. These figures represent new export records for both Norwegian Salmon and Norwegian Fjord Trout.

Slight increase for fisheries

Exports of seafood caught in the wild totalled NOK 18.7 billion in 2009, slightly up on 2008. Exports of capelin, herring, haddock and saithe clipfish set new records in 2009. The value of capelin exports increased by NOK 423 million to a value of NOK 571 million. Herring exports increased in value by NOK 263 million to NOK 4 billion. Haddock exports totalled NOK 1.1 billion, up by NOK 261 million, and exports of saithe clipfish were up by NOK 40 million to NOK 1.1 billion.

Exports of salted cod were down by NOK 495 million to a total of NOK 738 million in 2009, while cod clipfish totalled NOK 1.7 billion, the same as in 2008. Total stockfish exports showed a slight increase in 2009 to end at NOK 616 million.

Source: Norwegian Directorate of Customs and Excise/Statistics Norway

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