OSLO: Exports of Norwegian white fish, such as cod, haddock and saithe, including fillets, remained stable last month. They totalled 1,800 tonnes and were worth NOK 71 million, little change from October last year.
The value of fresh cod, including fillets, is increasing, however. The figure for 2016 so far shows fresh sales to overseas markets are running at 57,000 tonnes, with a value of NOK 1.9 billion. While the volume is more or less the same, the value rose by 13 per cent. The October figure for frozen cod, including fillets, reached 8,600 tonnes with a value of NOK 256 million, much the same as last year.
So far this year, Norway exported 67,000 tonnes of frozen cod, including fillets, with a value of NOK 2.1 billion. Volumes increased by 22 per cent, while value was up by 31 per cent from the same period last year.
Clipfish exports last month reached 9,900 tonnes, with a value of NOK 456 million, bringing the total for the year to 66,000 tonnes with a value of NOK 3 billion.
Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, groundfish analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said: ‘The Norwegian clipfish exports are affected by unstable markets. ‘This applied to the African markets, where currency exchange was a problem, and to the large clipfish market in Brazil.
‘In Brazil, lower oil prices and economic turmoil led to weakened purchasing power. It affects the demand for Norwegian clipfish, although we see signs of improvement.’
