Groundfish Set Export Record

Exports of groundfish including clipfish, salted fish and stockfish totalled NOK 899 million in May. This is an increase of NOK 59 million or 7% compared to May last year, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. Never before has the value of groundfish exports been so high, either for the month of May or the January-May period. The value of exports of groundfish for the year to date is NOK 4.9 billion, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to NSEC.

"Exports to Portugal account for almost the entire increase in exports of groundfish in May," says Ove Johansen, market analyst from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. "Portugal's imports of salted fish, clipfish, and fresh and frozen cod from Norway in May were valued at NOK 203 million, an increase of 29% or NOK 45.5 million compared to May last year, with salted fish showing the biggest increase."

Christian B. Nordahl, Fisheries Attaché in Portugal, adds: "Portugal had empty warehouses at New Year and has been importing heavily this spring to ensure a sufficient supply of fish throughout the summer and autumn - in effect, an inventory correction. We are also seeing shipments of fish re-exported to Brazil by Portuguese producers. These exports appear to be increasing. Total consumption of Norwegian Cod in Portugal has not increased in the same period."
Exports of Norwegian Cod clipfish up, Norwegian Saithe clipfish down

The value of clipfish exports in May totalled NOK 170 million, a reduction of 4% or NOK 6.7 million compared to May last year. The volume of clipfish exports in May totalled 4,417 tonnes, 776 tonnes down from May last year.

The reduction in clipfish exports is due to a fall in exports of Norwegian Saithe clipfish, which in May this year totalled NOK 47.5 million, down by NOK 17.3 million from May last year. The biggest reduction was in exports to Brazil.

Exports of Norwegian Cod clipfish in May increased in value by NOK 9 million or 9% to a total of NOK 108 million.  The biggest growth was in exports to Portugal.

Strong May for salted fish exports

Exports of all salted fish products in May totalled almost NOK 139.6 million, up by 21% or NOK 24.5 million compared to May 2010. The volume of exports in May was 4,045 tonnes, some 20 tonnes or 1% up on May last year. Portugal is the biggest market for salted fish.
Exports of fresh fish set new record

In May, exports of fresh groundfish products from fishing totalled NOK 151.6 million, marking a new record for the month of May. Never before has the export value of fresh fish products in May been as high as last month. Exports to France and Portugal showed the biggest growth. Fresh whole Norwegian Cod is the product with the best growth, with exports in May valued at NOK 55.5 million, up by 49% from the same month last year.
Best May month in a decade for exports of frozen fish products

It is more than a decade since exports of frozen groundfish products in May month matched the total value of exports achieved in May 2011 of NOK 378 million. This is an increase of 3% or NOK 11 million compared to May last year. The product with the biggest export growth was frozen Norwegian Cod fillets, increasing in value by 57% to a total of NOK 46 million. Exports to France showed the biggest growth in May, up in value from NOK 6.2 million to NOK 17.3 million.

Continued growth for aquaculture

The value of exports of farmed groundfish products in May increased by 9% or NOK 1.8 million to a total of NOK 20.3 million. The product with the biggest growth is fresh halibut, exports of which were up in value from NOK 4.5 million in May 2010 to NOK 6.4 million in May this year. The biggest markets are the UK and Ireland, which together grew in value by NOK 2.1 million.

The biggest product from aquaculture continues to be Norwegian Cod, exports of which totalled NOK 13.1 million in May, slightly down by 2% from the same month last year. Exports of fresh Norwegian Cod fillets grew in value by NOK 1 million, while exports of fresh whole Norwegian Cod were down in value by NOK 1.3 million. Germany is now the biggest market for fresh whole Norwegian Cod from aquaculture.