This is the second consecutive year that Norway's export value has fallen. In 2012, it exported 2.36 million metric tons of seafood, a drop of 78,000 metric tons compared with 2011.
Despite weak economies in key markets, Norway has retained its competitiveness and taken market share, according to the NSEC.
Norway is now the largest seafood provider of both the EU and Russia. About 20 percent of seafood imported into the EU are of Norwegian origin. And for Russia, the figure is 38 percent, said NSEC's CEO Terje E. Martinussen.
The EU is the Norwegian seafood industry's main market area, and 57 per cent of total seafood exports went to EU countries in 2012. Exports to the EU totaled NOK 29.6 billion (€4 billion/$5.3 billion) in 2012, which is NOK 1.3 billion (€176.1 million/$233.1 million) lower than last year due to lower price of cod and salmon, while the volume of salmon exports remained strong.
Russia was the largest single market for Norwegian seafood in 2012, with exports totaling NOK 6 billion (€812.9 million/$1.1 billion). This was the largest growth so far in Russia. France is the second largest single market with an export value of NOK 4.9 billion (€663.9 million/$878.5 million).
Japan had the biggest drop in export value, dropping by NOK 755 million (€102.3 million/$135.4 million) to reach NOK 2.1 billion (€284.5 million/$376.5 million), mainly due to lower exports mackerel.
Aquaculture increases
Increased export volume for both salmon and trout led to a growth of Norwegian aquaculture exports to NOK 600 million (€81.3 million/$107.6 million), to NOK 31.5 billion (€4.3 billion/$5.6 billion) in 2012. Aquaculture accounts for 61 percent of total seafood exports in 2012. The export of salmon was worth NOK 29.6 billion (€4 billion/$5.3 billion), while exports of trout totaled NOK 1.7 billion (€230.3 million/$304.8 million).
Global trends such as sushi and salmon health promises have become popular through aggressive marketing.
Over several years, Norwegian aquaculture has invested in building itself in such markets to develop distribution.
Decline in fisheries
After a record year in 2011 for the traditional Norwegian fisheries sector, 2012 was a year of low prices and reduced volumes. The export value of fishery totaled NOK 20.1 billion (€2.7 billion/$3.6 billion), a decrease of NOK 2.4 billion (€325.2 million/$430.3 million).
Mackerel accounts for NOK 634 million (€85.9 million/$113.7 million) of this decline, due to a fall in prices. Less herring quotas explains a decrease of NOK 183 million (€24.8 million/$32.8 million) for exports of herring. Cod and saithe sold for respectively NOK497 million and NOK485 million. Norway has exported shrimp and shellfish for NOK 800 million (€108.4 million/$143.4 million), which represents a decrease of 10 percent compared to 2011.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
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