Strong September for Norwegian Cod Exports
In September, Norwegian exports of groundfish including clipfish, salted fish and stockfish totalled NOK 1.02 billion, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to NSEC.
This is an increase of 10% or NOK 95.8 million compared to September 2009. The volume of exports increased by 3% or 1,192 tonnes to a total of 35,783 tonnes, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. This year to date, exports of groundfish from Norway total NOK 7.9 billion, marking the second biggest export value ever registered for the period from January to September.
"Historically good exports for the year to date have coincided with the announcement of record-sized cod and haddock quotas in the Barents Sea," says market analyst Ove Johansen from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. "In addition, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has approved a coastal cod rebuilding plan, which in turn will mean full environmental certification of the entire cod fishing industry. All in all, a good week for Norwegian Cod."
Good clipfish sales
Exports of clipfish in September totalled NOK 376 million, an increase of 13% or NOK 44.4 million compared to the same month last year. The volume of exports totalled 10,042 tonnes, which is the second highest volume ever registered for the month of September.
Portugal was the biggest market for clipfish in September, with exports valued at NOK 122 million, an increase of NOK 15.1 million compared to September last year.
Exports of Norwegian Cod clipfish increased by 20% in value in September to a total of NOK 228 million, compared to the same month last year. The volume of exports of Norwegian Cod clipfish in September totalled 4,866 tonnes, an increase of 925 tonnes or 23% compared to September 2009.
Exports of Norwegian Saithe clipfish in September increased in value by 4% to NOK 114 million, although in terms of volume exports remained on a par with September 2009, totalling 4,164 tonnes. The price of Norwegian Saithe clipfish in September averaged NOK 27.37/kg, some 5% higher than in September 2009.
Exports of salted fish down, stockfish up
In September, exports of salted fish products totalled NOK 59.4 million, a reduction of NOK 45.8 million or 43% compared to September last year. The volume of exports of salted fish products in September totalled 1,872 tonnes, down from 3,330 tonnes in September 2009.
Comments market analyst Ove Johansen from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council: "We are hearing reports from several producers who have completely sold out of stocks of salted fish, and from a historical perspective sales of salted fish in September were entirely normal and undramatic."
The value of exports of stockfish in September totalled NOK 111.4 million, up by 29% or NOK 24.8 million compared to September 2009. The best selling product is Norwegian Cod stockfish from Lofoten, exports of which in September totalled NOK 81.4 million. This is an increase of NOK 25.3 million compared to September last year. Italy, the main market, imported 508 tonnes at a price of NOK 136.86/kg, an increase of NOK 17.72/kg compared to the same month last year.
Good growth in exports of frozen whole fish
The value of exports of frozen whole groundfish in September totalled NOK 186.7 million, an increase of NOK 24.8 million or 15% compared to September 2009. The volume of exports increased by 284 tonnes to a total of 12,756 tonnes.
Exports of frozen whole Norwegian Cod and Norwegian Saithe increased in value by NOK 9.8 million and NOK 13.8 million respectively to total NOK 53.9 and NOK 41.7 million. Exports of frozen whole haddock showed a drop of NOK 1.8 million to a total of NOK 58.2 million.
China remains the biggest importer of frozen whole groundfish from Norway, with exports to China in September valued at NOK 87.6 million, an increase of 32% or NOK 21.2 million compared to September last year.
Exports of fresh whole angler and haddock showing good results
In September, the value of exports of fresh whole groundfish totalled NOK 98.4 million, up by NOK 22.2 million or 29% from September 2009.
In particular, exports of fresh whole angler are showing good results, totalling NOK 30.2 million in September, up by NOK 12.9 million from September last year. Also in September, exports of fresh whole haddock increased by NOK 12.7 million to a total of NOK 22 million.
Farmed Norwegian Cod
Exports of whole Norwegian Cod in September totalled NOK 26.9 million, up by 37% from the same month last year. The volume of exports in September totalled 946 tonnes, which is 27% up on the same month last year. The average price in September was NOK 28.44/kg, NOK 1.97 higher than in September 2009.
France is the biggest importer of farmed Norwegian Cod, with exports to France in September valued at NOK 8.4 million. This year to date, France has imported farmed whole Norwegian Cod to a value of NOK 46 million, an increase of over NOK 20 million compared to the same month last year.