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) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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