Best quarter for clipfish in recent times

Exports of groundfish including clipfish, salted fish and stockfish in the first quarter of 2011 totalled NOK 3.1 billion. This is an increase of 10% or NOK 278 million compared with the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. Exports in March totalled NOK 1.1 billion, up by 7% or NOK 72 million compared to March 2010, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to NSEC.

"Following good Christmas sales of clipfish in Portugal, stocks were down to nothing by New Year. This resulted in strong demand for groundfish in any form: fresh cod, frozen cod, salted fish and clipfish. Not since the 1990s have we exported so much groundfish to Portugal as we have in the first quarter of this year," comments market analyst Ove Johansen from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council.

Exports of clipfish in the first quarter of 2011 totalled NOK 983 million, an increase of 8% or NOK 71.7 million compared to the first quarter of 2010. This is a new export record for clipfish. The volume of exports of clipfish in the first quarter totalled 26,892 tonnes, up by 2,292 tonnes from the same quarter last year. Exports of Norwegian Cod clipfish increased in value by NOK 14.7 million to a total of NOK 505 million, while exports of saithe clipfish increased in value by NOK 73.5 million to NOK 406 million.
Good quarter for exports of salted fish

In the first quarter of 2011, the total value of exports of all salted fish products was NOK 442 million. This is an increase of 34% or NOK 113 million compared to the same period last year. The volume of exports in the first quarter of 2011 totalled 12,953 tonnes, an increase of 1,977 tonnes or 18% compared to the first quarter last year. Exports in March 2011 of salted Norwegian Cod, the biggest product, were valued at NOK 204 million, up by 30% from March 2010. These increases are wholly accounted for by growth in exports to Portugal.
Good export prices for stockfish

In the first quarter of this year, the value of exports of all stockfish products totalled NOK 139.8 million. This is an increase of 11% or NOK 13.8 million compared to the first quarter of 2010. However, the volume of exports fell by 11% to a total of 1,593 tonnes. The average price in the first quarter showed an increase of 25%.
In March, exports to Italy of Norwegian Cod stockfish from Lofoten were down by NOK 1.9 million to a total value of NOK 15.4 million. The price per kg in March was NOK 133.44, an increase of 32% compared to March last year.
Second best quarter ever for fresh fish exports

In the first quarter of 2011, exports of fresh groundfish products caught in the wild increased in value by 7% to a total of NOK 488.5 million compared to the same period last year. The biggest increase was in exports of fresh whole Norwegian Cod, where volume was up by 14% or 1,043 tonnes to a total of 8,379 tonnes compared to the first quarter last year. Most of this increase is accounted for by exports to Portugal.
Exports of fresh fillets in the first quarter declined in value by NOK 9.5 million or 5% compared to the same period last year. This is due to a downturn in exports of fresh Norwegian Cod fillets to Denmark.
Exports of frozen groundfish do well

In the first quarter of 2011, the value of exports of frozen groundfish products totalled NOK 826.3 million. This is an increase of 15% compared to the first quarter of 2010. The volume of exports in the same period showed growth of 7%. These increases are due primarily to growth in exports of frozen whole Norwegian Cod and saithe. The value of exports of frozen whole Norwegian Cod increased by NOK 35.7 million to NOK 187.8 million, while exports of frozen whole saithe were up in value by NOK 51.1 million to a total of NOK 125.7 million. The biggest market for frozen whole groundfish is China.
Reduction in exports of farmed fish

The value of exports of farmed groundfish in the first quarter of 2011 totalled NOK 97.6 million. This is slightly down on the same period last year by 1% or NOK 1.2 million.
The value of exports of whole farmed Norwegian Cod fell by NOK 2.8 million to a total of NOK 65.5 million. Exports of farmed Norwegian Cod fillets were also slightly down in value by NOK 1 million.
Exports of farmed halibut in the first quarter of 2011 increased in value by NOK 3.6 million to a total of NOK 21.8 million. Much of this increase is attributable to growth in exports to the USA, combined with a price increase of almost NOK 10 per kg.