Norway exported seafood to a value of NOK 4.9 billion (EUR 643.5 million) in May. This is an increase of NOK 966 million (EUR 127 million), or 25 per cent, compared with May last year.
So far this year, seafood exports have amounted to NOK 22.6 billion (EUR 3 billion), an increase of NOK 1.7 billion (EUR 223.3 million), or 8 per cent, compared with last year.
"Seafood exports for the first five months of the year have never been higher than the value reached this year. This growth is primarily due to the high price of salmon, but it is also a result of an increase in the export value of various cod products in May," says Egil Ove Sundheim, Director of Market Information at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Record salmon sales
Salmon exports reached NOK 2.6 billion (EUR 341.5 million) in May, a similar value to that achieved in May last year. So far this year, salmon exports have totalled NOK 14.5 billion (EUR 1.9 billion). Compared with the first five months in 2012, this increase is a massive NOK 3.1 billion (EUR 407 million), or 27 per cent.
In May, the average price of whole, fresh Norwegian salmon was NOK 41.89 (EUR 5.50) compared with NOK 30.15 (EUR 3.96) in May 2012. As with the previous month, France and Poland were the largest purchasers of salmon from Norway.
Trout exports increased by NOK 40 million (EUR 5.3 million) in May to make a combined value of NOK 172 million (EUR 22.6 million). So far this year, trout exports have totalled NOK 843 million (EUR 110.7 million), an increase of NOK 145 million (EUR 19 million) compared with 2012. The largest purchasers of trout from Norway are Russia and Belarus.
Herring up, mackerel down
Herring exports increased by NOK 23 million (EUR 3 million) in May to a combined value of NOK 169 million (EUR 22.2 million). So far this year, herring exports have been worth NOK 1.1 billion (EUR 144.5 million), a decrease of NOK 777 million (EUR 102 million) compared with last year. Russia and Germany are the largest markets for herring.
Mackerel sales fell by NOK 70 million (EUR 9.2 million) in May to a total of NOK 43 million (EUR 5.6 million). So far this year, mackerel exports have increased by NOK 415 million (EUR 54.5 million) to a total of NOK 574 million (EUR 75.4 million). The most important markets for mackerel are China and Russia.
Increase in fresh and frozen cod
Exports of fresh cod from fisheries, including fillets, increased by NOK 49 million (EUR 6.4 million) in May to a total export value of NOK 101 million (EUR 13.3 million). In May, frozen cod exports, including fillets, increased by NOK 55 million (EUR 7.2 million) to a total of NOK 160 million (EUR 21 million).