‘Fantastic’ first half for Norwegian exports

NORWAY has unveiled a ‘fantastic first six months’ for its fishermen and fish farmers as figures announced last month show exports were up by 25 per cent on the same period last year.

Seafood exports hit a new high of 42.6 billion kroners (NOK), an increase of NOK 8.6 billion when measured against the first six months of 2015. The growth in farmed salmon sales was even higher at 28 per cent.

Geir Håvard Hanssen, director of communications at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said: ‘The Norwegian seafood industry experienced enormous growth in export value in the first six months.

‘The price of salmon is grabbing the most Sales growth

headlines, but the entire seafood industry has had a fantastic first six months.

‘These good results show that there is great demand and that we are achieving good prices for Norwegian seafood. A favourable foreign currency situation is, of course, contributing positively.’

Salmon exports totalled NOK 27.9 bil- lion, a rise of NOK 6.2 billion. The average price for fresh whole Norwegian salmon in June was NOK 65.43, per kg versus NOK 40.85 per kg in June of last year.

Paul T Aandahl, analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council, said: ‘Increased demand for salmon globally, in combination with reduced export volume from Norway, has driven the price upwards.

‘The EU market has kept its share of Norwegian exports, while exports to the US have increased and are now responsible for six per cent of the Norwegian salmon exports.’

Norway exported trout worth NOK 1.9 billion in the first six months. This is an increase of 103 per cent or NOK 978 million