Record Exports of Pelagic Fish from Norway in 2011 with Russia staying the biggest market for herring and capelin

The value of exports of pelagic fish in 2011 set a new record, totalling NOK 8.4 billion. This is an increase of 15% or NOK 1.1 billion compared to 2010. The value of exports of herring and mackerel from Norway has never been higher in a single year than in 2011. The value of mackerel exports totalled NOK 3.5 billion, up by 16%, while the value of herring exports totalled NOK 4.2 billion, an increase of 14% from the previous year, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

For the first time since 2002, Japan is the biggest market for pelagic fish with the value of exports totalling NOK 1.4 billion. Russia is the next biggest market, followed by China and Germany. While the value of exports to Germany showed strong growth in 2011, Nigeria saw a sharp drop in exports after a good year in 2010.

"The record exports achieved in 2011 are the result not only of higher quotas, but also higher prices for all pelagic products. This indicates greater willingness in the markets to pay for pelagic products," says senior analyst Kristin Lien from the Norwegian Seafood Council, who emphasizes in particular the growth seen in exports to Japan. "And if we also include China, where we know that the majority of exports are further processed and re-exported to Japan for consumption, we estimate that Japan's consumption of pelagic fish from Norway tops NOK 2 billion - just in Japan."

Germany Fastest Growing Herring Market

Russia was the biggest market for herring from Norway in 2011 with exports valued at NOK 912 million, up by 6% from 2010, while Germany climbs to second place by a good margin with exports totalling NOK 757 million, showing strong growth of an impressive 78%. Nigeria, which placed second in 2010, has dropped to seventh place.

In 2011, the volume of exports of frozen whole herring totalled 282,000 tonnes, a drop of 37%. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Russia with 78,000 tonnes (down by 36%), Ukraine 56,000 tonnes (down 20%) and Nigeria 45,000 tonnes (down 65%). The average price for frozen whole herring in 2011 was NOK 6.88 per kg, an increase of no less than NOK 2.31 or 50% from 2010.

The volume of exports of frozen herring fillet products in 2011 totalled 146,000 tonnes, a reduction of 10%. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Germany with 51,000 tonnes (up by 15%), Russia 34,000 tonnes (down 25%) and Poland 21,000 tonnes (down 20%). The average price of frozen herring fillet products in 2011 was NOK 12.13 per kg, up by NOK 4.68 or 63% from 2010.

Japan Consumes Over Half of Norwegian Mackerel Exports

Japan was the biggest mackerel market in 2011 with exports from Norway valued at NOK 1.2 billion, up by 17% from 2010, with China in second place with exports valued at NOK 777 million, an increase of 47%. Together this means that over half of all mackerel exports from Norway are consumed in Japan. South Korea, Russia and Turkey are the next biggest mackerel markets.

The volume of exports of frozen whole mackerel from Norway in 2011 totalled 239,000 tonnes, a reduction of 10%. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Japan with 75,000 tonnes (down by 4%), China 57,000 tonnes (up 12%) and Turkey 19,000 tonnes (down 26%). In 2011, the average price of frozen whole mackerel was NOK 13.89 per kg, an increase of NOK 3.28 or 31% from 2010.

Russia Biggest Capelin Market

In 2011, the value of capelin exports from Norway totalled just over half a billion Norwegian crowns, an increase of 16%. Russia was the biggest capelin market last year with exports valued at NOK 136 million, a reduction of 9% from 2010. Japan was in second place with exports valued at NOK 92 million, an increase of 42%, and China was in third place with exports totalling NOK 74 million, up by an impressive 92%.

The volume of exports of frozen whole capelin from Norway in 2011 totalled 102,000 tonnes, down by 19% compared to 2010. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Russia with 32,000 tonnes (down by 25%), Japan 16,000 tonnes (up 15%), Ukraine 16,000 tonnes (down 53%) and China 14,000 tonnes (up 61%). In 2011, the average price of frozen whole capelin from Norway was NOK 4.72, up by NOK 0.99 or 27% from 2010.

"It is pleasing to see markets such as Germany increasing their imports of Norwegian herring and that fillet products are showing growth over whole fish," says Ingelill Jacobsen, Marketing Manager for Pelagic Fish with the Norwegian Seafood Council. "This further enhances value creation in Norway and gives the industry an incentive to work hard to meet future market demand."

For the first time since 2002, Japan is the biggest market for pelagic fish with the value of exports totalling NOK 1.4 billion. Russia is the next biggest market, followed by China and Germany. While the value of exports to Germany showed strong growth in 2011, Nigeria saw a sharp drop in exports after a good year in 2010.

"The record exports achieved in 2011 are the result not only of higher quotas, but also higher prices for all pelagic products. This indicates greater willingness in the markets to pay for pelagic products," says senior analyst Kristin Lien from the Norwegian Seafood Council, who emphasises in particular the growth seen in exports to Japan."And if we also include China, where we know that the majority of exports are further processed and re-exported to Japan for consumption, we estimate that Japan's consumption of pelagic fish from Norway tops NOK 2 billion - just in Japan."

Germany Fastest Growing Herring Market

Russia was the biggest market for herring from Norway in 2011 with exports valued at NOK 912 million, up by 6% from 2010, while Germany climbs to second place by a good margin with exports totalling NOK 757 million, showing strong growth of an impressive 78%. Nigeria, which placed second in 2010, has dropped to seventh place.

In 2011, the volume of exports of frozen whole herring totalled 282,000 tonnes, a drop of 37%. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Russia with 78,000 tonnes (down by 36%), Ukraine 56,000 tonnes (down 20%) and Nigeria 45,000 tonnes (down 65%). The average price for frozen whole herring in 2011 was NOK 6.88 per kg, an increase of no less than NOK 2.31 or 50% from 2010.

The volume of exports of frozen herring fillet products in 2011 totalled 146,000 tonnes, a reduction of 10%. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Germany with 51,000 tonnes (up by 15%), Russia 34,000 tonnes (down 25%) and Poland 21,000 tonnes (down 20%). The average price of frozen herring fillet products in 2011 was NOK 12.13 per kg, up by NOK 4.68 or 63% from 2010.

Japan Consumes Over Half of Norwegian Mackerel Exports

Japan was the biggest mackerel market in 2011 with exports from Norway valued at NOK 1.2 billion, up by 17% from 2010, with China in second place with exports valued at NOK 777 million, an increase of 47%. Together this means that over half of all mackerel exports from Norway are consumed in Japan. South Korea, Russia and Turkey are the next biggest mackerel markets.

The volume of exports of frozen whole mackerel from Norway in 2011 totalled 239,000 tonnes, a reduction of 10%. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Japan with 75,000 tonnes (down by 4%), China 57,000 tonnes (up 12%) and Turkey 19,000 tonnes (down 26%). In 2011, the average price of frozen whole mackerel was NOK 13.89 per kg, an increase of NOK 3.28 or 31% from 2010.

Russia Biggest Capelin Market

In 2011, the value of capelin exports from Norway totalled just over half a billion Norwegian crowns, an increase of 16%. Russia was the biggest capelin market last year with exports valued at NOK 136 million, a reduction of 9% from 2010. Japan was in second place with exports valued at NOK 92 million, an increase of 42%, and China was in third place with exports totalling NOK 74 million, up by an impressive 92%.

The volume of exports of frozen whole capelin from Norway in 2011 totalled 102,000 tonnes, down by 19% compared to 2010. The biggest markets in terms of volume were Russia with 32,000 tonnes (down by 25%), Japan 16,000 tonnes (up 15%), Ukraine 16,000 tonnes (down 53%) and China 14,000 tonnes (up 61%). In 2011, the average price of frozen whole capelin from Norway was NOK 4.72, up by NOK 0.99 or 27% from 2010.

"It is pleasing to see markets such as Germany increasing their imports of Norwegian herring and that fillet products are showing growth over whole fish," says Ingelill Jacobsen, Marketing Manager for Pelagic Fish with the Norwegian Seafood Council. "This further enhances value creation in Norway and gives the industry an incentive to work hard to meet future market demand."