OSLO: Norwegian white fish exporters last month failed to match the performance of their aquaculture colleagues, who saw farmed salmon sales hit new records. But the sector is still smiling.
Cod, haddock, saithe and other groundfish sales totalled 1.28 Norwegian kroners (NOK) during October, a small drop of NOK 51 million or about four per cent. The volume of white fish exported was 34,658 tonnes, down by 17 per cent. Clipfish and frozen fish exports also fell.
Ove Johansen, analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, nevertheless remained in positive mood. He said: ‘Compared with the historical record codfish exports of October 2014, this month is the second highest single month on record.
‘The situation is characterised by a reduction in fishing volumes, and an increase in prices, also assisted by the weakened Norwegian kroner. Combined, these factors result in a very good month for groundfish exports, despite the small decline.’
Fresh cod fish products achieved an export value of NOK 162 million in October. This is an increase of NOK 8 million, or five per cent year-on-year
Exports by volume were also up by five per cent compared with October 2014. Average prices rose 17 per cent to NOK 32.66 per kg. Exports of fresh whole haddock were down from NOK 30 million to NOK 25 million.
Year-on-year, fresh fillets fell in value by NOK 3.7 million to total NOK 36 million in October. Cod fillet exports fell by NOK 2.9 million to NOK 23 million, while fresh haddock fillets declined from NOK 12 million to NOK 10 million.
The price for cod fillets averaged NOK 85.46 per kg, an increase of 18 per cent compared to the previous October. For haddock fillets, the price increased by six per cent to NOK 66.24 per kg.
Exports of all frozen groundfish products were down by NOK 51 million to total NOK 428 million in October. Volumes were also down, by 18 per cent
Norway exported clipfish worth NOK 450 million in October, down by NOK 56 million or 11 per cent. Portugal remains the largest single market for clipfish, buying in supplies worth NOK 171 million last month.
Portugal was also the single largest importers of salt fish. Total exports to all markets amounted to 2,068 tonnes and increased by NOK 12 million to NOK 84 million. Prices rose by 23 per cent.
The export value of salted fish, both whole and filleted, increased by NOK 12 million to a total of NOK 84 million in October. This represents a 17 per cent gain on the same month in 2014.
Some 2,068 tonnes of salted fish were exported in October, a decrease of five per cent year-on-year. The average price increased by 23 per cent. Portugal was the biggest importer of Norwegian salted fish in October.
