(fis.com) First quarter exports of pelagic fish have set a new record this year, with exports up by 10 per cent to NOK 2.6 billion (EUR 341.5 million). Pelagic fish exports for March alone totalled NOK 667 million (EUR 87.6 million), down by NOK 94 million (EUR 12.3 million) or 12 per cent from March 2011.
Herring also showed a decline, with exports down by 23 per cent in value to a total of NOK 350 million (EUR 45.97 million), while exports of mackerel were up by 23 per cent in value to a total of NOK 142 million (EUR 18.7 million).
”Pelagic fish exports have set a new 1st quarter record, largely due to the continuing high prices for pelagic products which look set to go even higher,” comments senior analyst Kristin Lien from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
”The biggest volume of pelagic fish exports so far this year has gone to the markets in Russia, Ukraine and Germany. The challenge ahead will be to develop segments for the fish in markets that can accommodate these higher prices.”
In March the volume of exports of frozen whole herring totalled 22,000 tonnes, down 24,000 tonnes from March last year. Herring exports have gone mainly to Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Lithuania and Nigeria. Exports to Russia have increased, while exports to the other markets show a decline.
Export prices for herring have been trending upwards throughout the 2011/2012 season, setting one record price after another. In March the price of frozen whole herring was NOK 7.74 (EUR 1.02), up by NOK 1.72 (EUR 0.23) or 29 per cent from March 2011. This year to date exports of frozen whole herring total 92,000 tonnes, which is 47,000 tonnes down on the same period in 2011.
In March 2012 the export volume of frozen herring fillet products totalled 9,000 tonnes, down by 4,000 tonnes from the same month last year. Herring fillet exports have gone primarily to the Russian and German markets.
The average price in March was NOK 15.15 (EUR 1.99) per kg, an increase of 43 per cent from March last year. This year to date exports of frozen herring fillet products total 46,000 tonnes, a decrease of 16,000 tonnes compared to the same period last year.
The volume of exports of frozen whole mackerel in March 2012 totalled 11,000 tonnes, an increase of 2,000 tonnes from March last year. Russia, China, Nigeria and Turkey were the biggest importers.
The average export price in March for frozen whole mackerel was NOK 12.72 (EUR 1.67) per kg, up by NOK 1.12 (EUR 0.15) from March last year. The volume of frozen whole mackerel exports this year to date totals 58,000 tonnes, an increase of 10,000 tonnes compared to the same period last year.
The volume of exports of frozen whole capelin in the 1st quarter of 2012 totalled 53,000 tonnes, an increase of 11,000 tonnes or 27 per cent compared to the 1st quarter of 2011. The biggest markets are Russia, China, Japan and the Netherlands. In the 1st quarter of 2012 the average export price for frozen whole capelin was NOK 3.91 (EUR 0.51) per kg, down by NOK 0.75 (EUR 0.1) from the 1st quarter of 2011.