Never before have Norwegian seafood exports reached the record levels achieved during the first half of 2018.
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EU markets have seen strong growth in demand, and this has contributed to record-breaking export values for several species, making the first six months of the year the best ever for Norwegian seafood exports.
Norway exported 1.4 million tonnes of seafood with a value of NOK 48.1 billion in the first half of 2018. This is an increase of 10 percent in volume and a 4 percent increase in export value, at NOK 1.8 billion, compared with the first half of 2017.
In June, Norway exported 180,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK 7.9 billion. Volume was down by 9 percent, while the gain in value was NOK 274 million, or 4 percent, compared with June last year.
Norway exported 485,000 tonnes of salmon with a value of NOK 32.6 billion in the first half of 2018. Export volumes grew by 8 percent during the first half year, while there was an increase in value of 4 percent, or NOK 1.1 billion, compared with the first half year in 2017.
The countries that bought the most Norwegian salmon in the first half were Poland, France and Denmark.
In June, 86,000 tonnes of salmon were exported with a total value of NOK 5.6 billion. This is an increase in volume of 17 percent, while the export value increased by NOK 333 million, or 6 percent, compared to June last year. The average price for whole fresh salmon in June was NOK 61.79 per kg, compared to NOK 68.64 per kg in June 2017.
Norway exported 20,900 tonnes of trout with a total value of NOK 1.4 billion in the first half of the year. This is an increase in volume of 27 percent while the value increased by NOK 91 million, or 7 percent, from the first half of last year. The largest trout buyers from Norway in the first half were Belarus, the United States and Japan.
3,200 tonnes of trout were exported with a value of NOK 234 million in June. This is an increase in volume of 17 percent, while the value increased by NOK 10 million, or 4 percent, compared with June last year.
Norway exported 50,800 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillets, worth a total of NOK 1.8 billion in the first half of 2018. This is a decrease of 5 percent while the export value increased by NOK 45 million, or 2 percent, compared with the first half of 2017.
In June, 3,200 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillets, were exported with a value of NOK 118 million. This is a 19 percent decrease, while the value fell by NOK 17 million, or 12 percent, compared with June last year.
Norway exported 39,000 tonnes of frozen cod, including fillets, worth a total of NOK 1.4 billion in the first half of 2018. Volume is at the same level as the first half of last year, while the value has increased by NOK 138 million, or 11 percent, in the first half of 2018.
In June, 6,200 tonnes of frozen cod, including fillets, were exported with a value of NOK 249 million. This is an increase in volume of 21 percent while export values increased by NOK 72 million, or 40 percent, compared with June last year.
Norway exported 42,600 tonnes of clipfish with a value of NOK 1.9 billion during the first half of the year.
This is an increase in volume of 2 percent while the value increased by NOK 85 million or 5 percent compared to the first half of 2017.
In June, 6,900 tonnes of clipfish were exported with a value of NOK 337 million, a decrease in volume of 14 percent while export value fell by NOK 59 million, or 15 percent, compared with June 2017.
21,200 tonnes of salted fish were exported with a total value of NOK 1.1 billion during the first half of 2018. This represents a 5 percent increase in volume while the export value increased by NOK 158 million or 18 percent compared to the first half of 2017.
In June, 3,500 tonnes of salted fish were exported with a value of NOK 166 million. This is an increase in volume of 20 percent while export values increased by NOK 39 million or 31 percent compared to June 2017.
Norway exported 138,000 tonnes of herring with a value of NOK 1.2 billion in the first half of 2018. This is an increase in volume of 3 percent, while the export value fell by NOK 174 million, or 12 percent, compared with the first half of 2017. Germany, Poland and Lithuania were the largest markets for herring in this period.
In June, 23,000 tonnes of herring were exported with a value of NOK 231 million. June saw a drop in volume of 35 percent, while the export value fell by NOK 71 million, or 24 percent, compared with June last year.
Norway exported 78,000 tonnes of mackerel with a value of NOK 1 billion in the first half of the year. This represents a 19 percent decrease, while the export value fell by NOK 194 million, or 16 percent, compared with the first half of 2017. Japan, South Korea and China were the most important markets for mackerel in this period.
In June, 6,900 tonnes of mackerel were exported with a total value of NOK 96 million. This is a reduction of 23 percent in volume, while export value fell by NOK 31 million, or 24 percent, from June last year.
Norway exported 679 tonnes of king crab worth a total of NOK 195 million in the first half of the year. This represents a decrease of 4 percent, while the value increased by NOK 3 million, or 2 percent, compared with the first half of 2017.
For prawns, export volumes increased by 12 percent to total of 4,600 tonnes, while the export value increased by 23 percent or NOK 69 million to a total export value of NOK 373 million in the first half of 2018. ■