(fis.com) The value of Norwegian salmon exports in the first nine months of the year totalled NOK 21.2 billion (EUR 2.9 billion). This is a slight downturn of NOK 481 million (EUR 64.97 million) compared to the same period last year.
The volume of exports in the same period totalled 714,000 tonnes, an increase of 25 per cent or 141,000 tonnes compared to the first nine months of 2011, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
The value of Norwegian salmon exports in September increased by NOK 38 million (EUR 5.1 million) to NOK 2.4 billion (EUR 324.2 million), while the volume of exports in September was up by 7 per cent to 86,000 tonnes.
“The slight fall in the value of Norwegian salmon exports this year to date is due to lower prices at the beginning of the year compared to the beginning of 2011,” says senior analyst Paul Aandahl from the Norwegian Seafood Council. “The price fall was the result of increased supply from Norway and other salmon producing nations.”
The average export price for fresh whole Norwegian salmon in the third quarter of 2012 was NOK 27.64 (EUR 3.73) per kg, down by NOK 7.48 (EUR 1.01) per kg from the same period last year. In September the average price was NOK 26.35 (EUR 3.56) per kg, just slightly down by NOK 0.08 (EUR 0.01) compared to September 2011 and NOK 1.62 (EUR 0.22) lower than in August this year.
The majority of Norwegian salmon export markets have seen strong growth in export volume in 2012. The biggest growth has been in exports to Russia, with volume up by 29,000 tonnes. Poland has also seen strong growth, with volume up by 20,000 tonnes. The volume of exports to France, the biggest market, was up by 12,000 tonnes.
Despite strong growth in the overall volume of Norwegian salmon exports, exports of frozen products have remained static. Fresh Norwegian salmon products now account for 90 per cent of all Norwegian salmon exports.
The value of exports of Norwegian fjord trout in the third quarter of 2012 showed growth of 22 per cent to NOK 1.2 billion (EUR 162.1 million) compared to the same quarter last year.
The volume of trout exports in the third quarter of 2012 totalled over 39,000 tonnes. This is an increase of 56 per cent or 14,000 tonnes compared to the same period last year. Russia is the biggest export market, accounting for 58 per cent of total exports, followed by Japan, Belarus and Ukraine.