Norway sees record start for seafood exports in 2022
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Topics: NORWAY
That's an increase of NOK 2.1 billion, or 26 per cent, compared with January last year.
"January this year gave the highest export value ever, and thus the strong trend continues from 2021. Despite challenges with the corona pandemic, prices for many of our products increased. It was also a January record in both value and volume for salmon", says Renate Larsen, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
In January, the total volume of exported seafood fell by 17 per cent, compared with the same month in 2021.
"There was a clear difference in exports in January. While fish from aquaculture had a value growth of 42 per cent, there was a decrease in both volume and value on the wild catch side. Occasionally bad weather presented some challenges for the fleet. Still, thanks to significant growth in demand in the markets, there was increased value for several wild-caught products, including cod and saithe", says Renate Larsen.
Nevertheless, salmon was the engine for seafood exports in January.
"Salmon consolidated its strong position and accounted for 70 per cent of the total value. In overseas markets such as North America and Asia, restaurant openings and improved logistics have resulted in growth in exports, especially for whole fresh salmon", says Renate Larsen.
In January, Norway exported 718 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 47 million. An increase in value of 82 per cent compared with the same month last year.
The largest growth in seafood exports this time came from outside the EU. While this market in January 2021 accounted for 58 per cent of the export value, it had fallen to 54 per cent in the same month this year.
A record month for salmon
• 96,500 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 7.2 billion were exported in January.
• Export volume increased by 2 per cent.
• Export value increased by NOK 2.1 billion, or 41 per cent, compared with January last year.
• France, Poland, and the USA were the largest markets for Norwegian salmon in January.
The share of salmon exports to the EU fell from 67 per cent in January last year to 60 per cent this year.
In January, the United States was the next largest growth market for salmon, increasing NOK 192 million, or 49 per cent, to NOK 583 million. The increase in exports for fresh whole salmon was particularly strong.
In the case of fresh fillets, the volume increased from 4,000 tonnes last year to 5,000 tonnes this year. Frozen fillets ended at about 1,300 tonnes, the same as in January last year.
Big increase for trout
• 4,400 tonnes of trout worth NOK 338 million were exported in January.
• Export volume increased by 16 per cent.
• Export value increased by NOK 123 million, or 57 per cent, compared with January last year.
• The USA, Thailand and Japan were the largest markets for Norwegian trout in January.
Like salmon, trout also increased their market share outside Europe.
Growth for fresh cod
• Norway exported 4,800 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillets worth 260 million.
• The volume increased by 23 per cent.
• Export value increased by NOK 79 million, or 44 per cent, compared with January last year.
• Denmark, Sweden, and Spain were the largest markets for fresh cod from Norway in January.
In January, the export price for fresh whole cod was as much as NOK 50 per kg. The second highest ever in a single month.
Good January for cod
• Norway exported 718 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 47 million in January.
• Export volume increased by 61 per cent.
• Export value increased by NOK 21 million, or 82 per cent, compared with January last year.
• Denmark, Sweden, and Spain were the largest markets for fresh cod from Norway in January.
The export price for fresh cod is the highest ever in a single month, with prices as high as NOK 66 per kg. Spain increased its volume sharply from last year and imported over 80 tonnes of cod in January.
The best month ever for frozen cod
• Norway exported 11,800 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 482 million in January.
• An increase in volume of 70 per cent.
• Export value increased by NOK 221 million, or 84 per cent, compared with January last year.
• China, the United Kingdom, and the United States were the largest markets for frozen cod from Norway in January.
"This is the highest export value ever in a single month, almost 100 million higher than the previous record month, which was in January 2019”, says Eivind Hestvik Brækkan, Marine Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Record for saithe clipfish
• Norway exported 8,100 tonnes of clip fish worth NOK 396 million in January.
• A decrease in export volume of 15 per cent.
• Export value fell by NOK 31 million, or 7 per cent, compared with January last year.
• Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Portugal were the largest markets for Norwegian clip fish in January.
Prices for clip fish of both cod and saithe continue the strong development from the end of last year. Norway exported a clip fish of saithe for NOK 202 million, a new export record.
Value-added for salted fish
• Norway exported 1,300 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 63 million in January.
• Export volume is unchanged.
• Export value increased by NOK 4 million, or 6 per cent, compared with January last year.
• In January, Portugal, Greece, and Canada were the largest markets for Norwegian salted fish.
These figures represent the highest export value in a January month since 2008.
Decline for stockfish
• Norway exported 328 tonnes of stockfish worth NOK 63 million in January.
• A decrease in volume of 38 per cent.
• The export value fell by NOK 39 million, or 38 per cent, compared with January last year.
• In January, Italy, the USA, and Nigeria were the largest markets for Norwegian stockfish.
"The export price for whole stockfish of cod was higher than in some of last year's months, and over NOK 200 per kg for the first time since January last year", says Eivind Hestvik Brækkan, Marine Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Low catches resulted in lower herring exports
• Norway exported 19,200 tonnes of herring worth NOK 251 million in January.
• Export volume fell by 46 per cent.
• The export value fell by NOK 99 million, or 28 per cent, compared with January last year.
• Poland, Lithuania, and Germany were the largest markets for Norwegian herring in January.
The reduced catches have a direct effect on decreasing exports. In January 2021, large quantities of smaller herring were caught. These lower-priced herrings were in great demand in West Africa. This year the herring are larger, and the prices are higher. This means that the European markets take the most", says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Manager for Pelagic Species with the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Lower mackerel exports
• Norway exported 25,200 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 464 million in January.
• A decrease in volume of 39 per cent.
• The export value fell by NOK 164 million, or 26 per cent, compared with January last year.
• South Korea, China and Japan were the largest markets for Norwegian mackerel in January.
Mackerel exports are still at a high level compared to all years, except for last year's January, which set an export record. The export value in January 2022 is the second-highest recorded.
Halved export volume for king crab
• Norway exported 132 tonnes of king crab worth NOK 77 million in January.
• A decrease in volume of 55 per cent.
• Export value fell by NOK 20 million, or 20 per cent, compared with January last year.
• The USA, South Korea and Denmark were the largest markets for Norwegian king crab in January.
Value growth for prawn
• 909 tonnes of prawn worth NOK 69 million were exported in January.
• An increase in export volume of 3 per cent.
• Export value increased by NOK 3 million, or 4 per cent, compared with January last year.
• The UK, Sweden and Finland were the largest markets for Norwegian prawn in January.
A lot of bad weather from south to north has also contributed to lower volumes of fresh shrimp and shrimp being exported to Sweden in January this year, compared to last year. Compared with January last year, shrimp exports to Sweden have decreased by 22 per cent. ■