OSLO: The timing of Easter has been blamed for a 23% dip in Norwegian seafood export volumes last month.
Norway exported 151,000 tonnes of seafood, worth NOK 6.8 billion, in April – a 23% decrease in volume and a 7% decrease in value compared with April 2016.
So far this year, Norway has exported 886,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK 31 billion. Year to date export volumes are at the same level as last year, while the year to date value of Norwegian seafood exports has increased by 8 percent.
Salmon exports totaled 60,000 tonnes, worth NOK 4.9 billion, in April – a drop of 11 per cent in volume. Values remained the same, however, thanks to the average price for fresh whole salmon rising from NOK 57.11 per kg in April 2016, to NOK 63.59 per kg in April 2017. Poland, France and the United States were the largest export markets for salmon from Norway in April. So far this year, Norway has exported 305,000 tonnes of salmon with a total value of NOK 21 billion.
“Strong price growth compared with the same period last year has led to a value added of NOK 2.7 billion or 15 per cent for Norwegian salmon exports so far this year. A trend we have seen over time is that exports to the EU are reduced, while exports to overseas markets have increased,” said Analyst Paul Aandahl.
Trout exports in April totaled 2,480 tonnes, worth NOK 199 million – a 69 per cent fall in volume and a 51 per cent fall in value, compared with April 2016. So far this year, Norway has exported 11,100 tonnes of trout worth NOK 874 million. Japan, Belarus and the United States were the largest trout export markets in April.
