Norway exported seafood worth NOK8.6bn (EUR857,5m) in April. This is an increase of NOK338m, or 4%, compared with April last year. Thus, the positive development from last month continues, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council.
“Even though the seafood markets are still strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and a strengthened Norwegian krone, the value of seafood exports in April is the second highest April ever. This is partly because record-high volumes are being exported at increased prices for salmon and snow crab, among other things. The demand for salmon in France and Italy is again growing. At the same time, the Americans have opened their eyes to the snow crab”, Renate Larsen, the Norwegian Seafood Council CEO explains. “The development for salted fish and clipfish of cod is still weak. Although the salted fish volume increased in April, the volume for both clipfish and salted fish of cod is down over 20% so far this year, at still low prices. This is due to reduced demand and lower volume to an important market such as Portugal.”
86,000 tonnes of salmon worth NOK5.8bn were exported in April, which represents an increase in value of 9% (NOK491m) when compared to last April. It was the second-highest ever April for salmon exports. It was only beaten by the same month in 2019, which was then NOK6.2bn.
Other figures for April exports are 3,800 tonnes of trout worth NO246m; 11,600 tonnes of fresh cod, including quality-labeled cod, worth NOK385m; and 7,700 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK315m.
“The growth in exports of frozen fillets to the UK continues. This contributes to the fact that this market had the most significant increase in value for frozen cod in April. Portugal has the largest increase in value for frozen whole cod, but exports to China are also increasing, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council Eivind Hestvik Brækkan says.