Norway exported NOK 12.7 billion worth of seafood in January.
Article continues below
An all time record for the month. This is an increase of NOK 2.4 billion, or 23 per cent, compared to January last year.
In January, there was a decrease in the export volume of fresh whole salmon to Europe, while China and the USA stand out with significant growth.
January was the 17th month in a row with seafood exports exceeding NOK 10 billion. In August 2021, seafood exports were NOK 9.6 billion.
The largest markets for Norwegian seafood exports in January were the USA, Denmark and Poland.
In January, seafood was exported to a total of 116 countries.
Increased export volume of pollock, which has larger quotas this year, also contributed to the growth in export value in January.
January was the 6th month in a row with exports of over NOK 12 billion.
Among individual species, we had an export record for both pollock and tusk in January, of NOK 466 and NOK 65 million respectively.
For the first time since April 1989, the USA is the largest market for Norwegian seafood exports. Norway exported NOK 1.15 billion worth of seafood to the USA in January, an increase of 41 per cent since January last year.
The USA was also the country with the largest growth in seafood exports measured in value in January, with a lift of NOK 338 million compared to January last year. The export volume to the USA ended at 9,655 tonnes, which is 4 per cent lower than the same month last year.
While the value of other seafood species to the U.S., such as cod and haddock, has decreased, salmon exports have increased sharply.
In January, the value of salmon exports increased by 59 per cent, or NOK 344 million, compared to the same month last year.
The USA thus became Norway's most significant salmon market and the market where the value of salmon exports increased the most in the first month of the year.
One-third of salmon exports go to markets beyond Europe.
Norway exported 89,698 tonnes of salmon to a value of NOK 8.9 billion in January.
The value increased by NOK 1.8 billion, or 25 per cent, compared to January last
ear
The volume fell by 6 per cent.
The USA, Poland and France were the biggest markets for salmon in January.
There was a record-high price for fresh salmon fillets in January at NOK 140 per kg. That is NOK 11 per kg higher than the previous record month, which was in May 2022
The average export price for whole fresh salmon in January was 32 per cent higher than for the same month last year.
Norway exported 3,117 tonnes of trout worth NOK 310 million in January.
The value fell by NOK 24 million, or 7 per cent, compared to January last year.
Lithuania had the largest increase in export value this month, with an increase in export value of NOK 24 million, to NOK 24.7 million. Measured in product weight, exports increased from 14 tonnes last year to 287 tonnes this year.
Norway exported 3,852 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 240 million in January.
The export value fell by NOK 15 million, or 6 per cent, compared to January last year.
The Netherlands had the most significant increase in value this month, with an export value of NOK 17 million, or 326 per cent, compared to the same month last year.
Record high prices and a decrease in volume also for skrei.
Norway exported 451 tonnes of skrei to a value of NOK 37 million in January.
The value fell by NOK 10 million, or 22 per cent, compared to January last year.
The volume fell by 38 per cent.
Denmark, Sweden and Poland were the biggest markets for skrei in January.
Norway exported 7,846 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 442 million in January.
The export value fell by NOK 39 million, or 8 per cent, compared to January last year.
The export volume fell by 34 per cent.
In January, China, Great Britain and Poland were the biggest markets for frozen cod.
There is also a record-high price for frozen fillet blocks, at NOK 83 per kg. This is NOK 3 per kg higher than the previous record month, which was in July 2022.
Norway exported 9,593 tonnes of clipfish to a value of NOK 622 million in January.
Export value increased by NOK 243 million, or 64 per cent, compared to January last year.
There is a growth in export volume of 24 per cent.
Brazil had the most significant increase in value this month, with an export value of NOK 184 million, or 134 per cent, compared to the same month last year.
The export volume to Brazil ended at 4,577 tonnes, which is 83 per cent higher than the same month last year.
This contributed to Brazil becoming the third largest growth market for all Norwegian seafood exports in January. ■