Norway exported NOK 109 billion worth of seafood in the first nine months of the year.
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It is a new record, with a growth of 29 per cent, or NOK 24.3 billion, compared to the same period last year.
In the third quarter of 2022, Norway exported NOK 39 billion worth of seafood, the highest value ever in a quarter. The previous record was NOK 36.1 billion, set in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Of the species, salmon is still the export engine. It accounted for 72 per cent by value and 49 per cent of the total export volume in the third quarter. Export value increased by NOK 6.5 billion compared to last year, or 30 per cent.
The whitefish category and mackerel can also show strong growth. The export value for frozen cod and rockfish has never been higher in the third quarter, while there was a value record for pelagic species in September.
Norway exported 355,000 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 28 billion in the third quarter.
The value increased by NOK 6.5 billion, or 30 per cent, compared to last year's third quarter.
There is a growth in the export volume of 2 per cent.
The most important salmon markets in the third quarter were Poland, Denmark and France.
The export record for salmon has broken again, thanks to solid growth in the salmon price. The average price for fresh whole salmon was NOK 71.80 per kg, which is 26 per cent higher than in the same period last year.
In relative terms, exports to North America increase the most, by 66 per cent to NOK 2.5 billion. Salmon worth NOK 20.3 billion was exported to the EU in the third quarter, while the export value to Asia amounted to NOK 4.8 billion.
In terms of absolute increase, Poland was the most significant growth market, with well over NOK 1 billion in growth, ahead of the USA, which increased by NOK 887 million.
In the third quarter, Norway exported 16,537 tonnes of trout with a value of NOK 1.5 billion.
The value increased by NOK 307 million, or 26 per cent, compared to last year's third quarter.
The volume fell by 14 per cent.
The most important trout markets in the third quarter were the USA, Lithuania and Thailand.
For trout, the third quarter was the strongest, and like salmon, further processing for this species is also increasing.
The biggest growth market for trout in the third quarter was Lithuania, with an increase of NOK 166 million.
In September, there was a decline in both volume and value for trout.
6,100 tonnes of trout worth NOK 505 million were exported in September.
The volume fell by 8 per cent.
Export value fell by NOK 85 million, or 20 per cent, compared to September last year.
Norway exported 5,200 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 280 million in the third quarter.
There is a decrease in export volume of 27 per cent.
The export value fell by NOK 8 million, or 3 per cent in the same period.
Denmark, Sweden and Germany were the largest recipients of fresh cod from Norway in the third quarter.
In September, there was also a decline in both volume and value.
1,100 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 67 million were exported in September.
There is a decrease in export volume of 54 per cent.
The value fell by NOK 34 million, or 33 per cent, compared to September last year.
Norway exported 14,600 tonnes of frozen cod to a value of NOK 809 million in the third quarter.
There is an increase in the export volume of 11 per cent.
The value increased by NOK 279 million, or 53 per cent, in the same period.
China, Great Britain and Poland were the largest recipients of frozen cod from Norway in the third quarter.
China and Great Britain stand out as the growth leaders in export volume in the third quarter, with an increase of 27 and 45 per cent respectively, or 1,300 and 1,000 tonnes. Both frozen whole cod and frozen fillet to the UK are increasing in volume, while towards China we see growth for frozen whole cod and frozen edible by-products.
In September, there was a volume decline but growth in value.
4,400 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 251 million were exported in September.
There is a decrease in export volume of 8 per cent.
The value increased by NOK 55 million, or 28 per cent, compared to September last year.
Norway exported 21,000 tonnes of clipfish to a value of NOK 1.4 billion in the third
uarter.
There is a decrease in volume of 6 per cent.
The value increased by NOK 295 million, or 26 per cent, in the same period.
Portugal, Brazil and Congo-Brazzaville were the most important recipients of clipfish from Norway in the third quarter.
The export value of clipfish has never been higher in the third quarter.
High prices for clipfish in shops may put a damper on consumption in Portugal in the future, but the country is set to have the highest economic growth in the EU this year.
The third quarter is the quarter with the lowest export of herring. Many North Sea herring are landed from foreign boats that fish in British waters and from which herring roe and fillet are produced.
The increase in volume and value in the third quarter is mainly due to increased exports of herring fillets to Lithuania, Poland, Belarus and the Netherlands.
Herring prices have been increasing for a long time, but now they have stagnated for several products. At the same time, prices are, on average, 9 per cent higher than in the same period in 2021.
On 1 October, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) published its quota advice for next year's Norwegian spring-spawning herring (NVG). The figure is 511,171 tonnes, against 598,588 tonnes for the current year, a decrease of 15 per cent. Earlier this year, ICES published the quota council for North Sea herring, which is 414,886 tonnes, down from 532,183 tonnes for 2022, a decrease of 22 per cent. ■