Some NOK 11.6 billion worth of fisheries and aquaculture products were exported by Norway to overseas markets last month – the best July on record, confirms the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
For the year to date, Norway’s seafood exports achieved a value of NOK 81.7 billion, representing an increase of NOK 18.5 billion or 29% year-on-year.
While the export volume for important species such as salmon, cod, mackerel and herring fell in July, high salmon prices made the largest contribution to July’s strong seafood export results. At the same time, the export price for several other species and products also reached record highs in July. For example, cod and saithe clipfish and frozen whole cod and haddock have achieved prices not seen before.
Despite the strong growth in the value in 2022, the industry faces challenges such as high inflation and cost growth, maintains NSC’s acting CEO Børge Grønbech.
“Both factors have weakened most consumer´s purchasing power. In addition, supply logistics out to the markets are challenging in several areas. These factors can influence the development of seafood exports going forward,” he said.
Norway exported 96,500 tonnes of salmon valued at NOK 8.7 billion last month, with the volume falling 5% and the value climbing 27% compared with July 2021. The average export price for fresh products was NOK 84.87 per kg.
The country’s clipfish exports totalled 5,400 tonnes worth NOK 358 million. While this volume was down 14%, the value increased by 16% compared with July last year.
Portugal, Brazil and Congo-Brazzaville were the biggest markets for Norwegian clipfish in July.
For the third month, export prices for cod and pollack clipfish were at record high levels. Last month’s price of cod clipfish was NOK 107 per kg, while the price for clipfish from saithe was NOK 46 per kg.
Also from its whitefish sector, Norway exported 2,500 tonnes of fresh cod earning NOK 123 million and 4,600 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 255 million, with the export price of frozen whole cod increasing to a level of NOK 54.12 per kg last month.
Meanwhile, pelagic exporters shipped 12,300 tonnes of herring valued at NOK 166 million and 7,800 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 149 million.
Norway’s shellfish sector exported 114 MT of king crab worth NOK 62 million, 226 tonnes of snow crab (NOK 32 million) and 2,300 tonnes of prawns (NOK 109 million) in July.
In the first six months of this year, Norway sold a record NOK 70.1 billion worth of seafood to overseas markets.
