The value of Norway’s exports of herring, mackerel and other pelagic fish in September totalled NOK 545 million (EUR 67.2 million).
This is an increase of NOK 43 million (EUR 5.3 million) or 8.5 percent compared to September last year. In the first nine months of the year, exports of pelagic fish were valued at NOK 3.2 billion (EUR 394.5 million), down from NOK 5 billion (EUR 616.4 million) for the same period in 2012.
“The value of Norwegian herring exports in September totalled NOK 198 million (EUR 24.4 million)– an increase of no less than 21 per cent,” says Egil Ove Sundheim, director of market information with the Norwegian Seafood Council. “The growth in turnover in herring exports shows that markets are improving, indicating that stocks are being reduced before the new season. Mackerel exports are down by 1.5 per cent to NOK 309 million (EUR 38.1 million). The mackerel have kept us waiting this year and we have not seen the numbers we would wish, but on the other hand the low volume has kept auction prices high.”
Russia: biggest market for Norwegian herring
Russia was the biggest herring market in September, with an export value of NOK 58 million (EUR 7.1 million). Both Poland and Ukraine have imported Norwegian herring to the value of NOK 28 million (EUR 3.4 million) in September.
September exports of frozen whole Norwegian herring totalled 13,000 tonnes, up by 3,000 tonnes from September last year. Norwegian herring exports have gone primarily to Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania. In September the average price of frozen whole Norwegian herring was NOK 6.99 (EUR 0.86) per kg, slightly down by NOK 0.01 (EUR 0.001) per kg compared to September 2012.
A total of 8,000 tonnes of frozen Norwegian herring fillet products was exported in September, up by 3,000 tonnes compared to September last year. Herring fillet exports have mainly gone to the markets in Poland, Russia, the Netherlands and Germany. The average price in September was NOK 11.38 (EUR 1.4) per kg, down by NOK 1.44 (EUR 0.18) per kg from September last year.
This year to date, the biggest export markets for Norwegian herring are Russia, Germany and Ukraine. In the nine months to the end of September, a total of 186,000 tonnes was exported to a value of NOK 1.8 billion (EUR 221.9 million). The average price was NOK 9.62 (EUR 1.18) per kg. This is a decline in value of NOK 1 billion (EUR 123.3 million) or 36 percent compared to the same period last year. To date, the biggest markets for Norwegian herring in 2013 are Russia and Germany.
China and Japan: biggest mackerel markets
The value of mackerel exports is at the same level as last year, totalling NOK 309 million (EUR 38.1 million) in September. Some 26,000 tonnes of frozen whole mackerel was exported in September, a decline of 1,500 tonnes from September last year.
Turkey, Japan, China, Poland and South Korea have been the biggest markets. The average price of frozen whole mackerel in September was NOK 11.22 (EUR 1.38) per kg, up by NOK 1.54 (EUR 0.19) per kg compared to the same month last year.
This year to date, mackerel exports are down in value by NOK 460 million (EUR 56.7 million) to a total of NOK 1.1 billion (EUR 135.6 million). The most important markets for Norwegian mackerel are China and Japan. For the year to date, export volume totals 95,000 tonnes of frozen whole mackerel down by 20,000 tonnes compared to the first nine months of 2012. The price has also fallen, down by NOK 2 (EUR 0.25) to NOK 10.29 (EUR 1.27) per kg.