OSLO: Norway’s salmon exports reached a market value of NOK 13.4 billion (USD 1.60 billion) in Q1, representing a 21 per cent growth from the first quarter of 2015.
Measured by volume, some 227,464 tonnes of salmon were exported during the first quarter, which represents a small decline of 6 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Norway’s salmon exports were worth NOK 4.9 billion in March representing an increase of 18 per cent compared to the same month in 2015. In volume terms, they amounted to 80,663 tonnes, which a 13 per cent drop compared with the same month last year.
”Reduced output from Norwegian producers, combined with a strong demand for Norwegian salmon and favorable currency situation has contributed to a record first quarter for Norwegian salmon”, commented Paul T. Aandahl, analyst for salmon and trout at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The average export price for fresh whole Norwegian Salmon in the first quarter was NOK 56.68 per kg, which is 33 per cent higher than the average prices in Q1 2015. The export price for fresh whole salmon in March was NOK 59.11 per kg, representing a 43 per cent growth compared to the same month a year ago.
Norway exported salmon to the EU worth NOK 9.9 billion in the first quarter, which is 23 per cent higher than for Q1 2015. Measured by volume, 173,147 tonnes of salmon were exported to the EU during this period, which is a reduction of 5 per cent compared to the first quarter last year. The principal markets for Norwegian salmon in the EU in the first quarter were Poland, France and Britain.
Meanwhile, Norwegian salmon exports to Asia reached a value of NOK 2.3 billion in the first quarter, which is increase of 24 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. By volume, 35,230 tonnes of Norwegian salmon were exported to Asia, representing an 8 per cent drop from the first quarter last year.
Norway exported salmon to the United States worth NOK 746 million in the first quarter, which is a 32 per cent growth year-on-year. Measured by volume 9,439 tonnes of salmon were exported to the North American country, which is an increase of 6 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. In the first three months, the proportion of fresh fillets increased from 22 per cent in 2015 to 47 per cent in 2016.
Norwegian trout exports were worth NOK 906 million in the first quarter, which is an increase of 99 per cent or NOK 450 million from the first three months of 2015. Measured by volume, 18,693 tonnes of trout were exported, representing a 91 per cent increase year-on-year. Top buyers of trout from Norway in the first quarter of this year were Belarus, Poland and Japan.
In March, trout exports were worth NOK 319 million, which is a 76 per cent growth compared to the same month last year. Measured by volume, 6,337 tonnes of trout were exported, which is an increase of 55 per cent.
