Poland, Denmark and France were the largest export markets for Norwegian seafood in November

Large fall in seafood exports in November | Salmon, Trou and Cod

NORWAY
Thursday, December 03, 2020, 18:00 (GMT + 9)

In November, the value of Norwegian seafood exports was NOK 9.4 billion. This is a decrease in value of 11 per cent, or NOK 1.2 billion, compared to November 2019.

So far this year, seafood exports total NOK 96.6 billion. This is a decrease of NOK 1 billion, or 1 per cent, when compared against the same period last year.

“Norwegian seafood exports are now seeing the impact of a hotel and restaurant sector that has more or less shut down across Europe. In addition, the demand for traditional products such as clipfish and stockfish which are often eaten at larger dinners with friends and family has fallen due to the restrictions on mixing households”, says director of market insight and market access in the Norwegian Seafood Council, Tom-Jørgen Gangsø.

Significant drop in demand

“November 2019 was an exceptionally strong month, so that should also be taken into account when comparing year-on-year performance. At the same time, the fall in export value would have been greater if the Norwegian kroner had not been so weak”, says Gangsø.

“The large Christmas sales of seafood this year must be covered by the retail trade, but it will not be enough to offset the loss of demand from the restaurants. A result of this is a significantly reduced price for most of the seafood products”, says Tom-Jørgen Gangsø.

Poland, Denmark and France were the largest export markets for Norwegian seafood in November.

Decline in value for salmon

•     108,000 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 5.8 billion were exported in November.
•     The volume increased by 1 per cent.
•     The value fell by NOK 991 million, or 15 per cent, compared with November last year.
•     Poland, France and Denmark were the largest markets for Norwegian salmon in November.

In November, the export price for salmon was NOK 47.97 per kilo, which was 19 per cent lower than in the same month 2019.

“Due to the corona situation and a reduced turnover in the restaurant sector, salmon is not able to reach the record price highs we saw before Christmas last year. The fall in value could actually have been greater, but this is offset by increased sales of salmon fillets”, says Paul T. Aandahl, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

•     So far this year, 1 million tonnes of salmon worth NOK 64 billion have been exported.
•     Volume remains at the same level as last year, while the value fell by NOK 1.6 billion, or 2 per cent.

Trout exports remain stable

•     6,200 tonnes of trout worth NOK 352 million were exported in November
•     Export volume fell by 8 per cent.
•     Export value fell by NOK 28 million, or 7 per cent, compared with November last year.
•     Belarus, Japan and the USA were the largest markets for Norwegian trout in November.

“Compared with salmon, trout has seen less severe falls in value in November. Traditionally, relatively little Norwegian trout is sold for consumption outside the home, and it is therefore less affected by the restaurant sector closures” says seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

The average price for fresh whole trout in November was NOK 52.49 per kg, which is 1.5 per cent lower than in the same month last year. It is the first time since March 2019 that the price for fresh trout is higher than for fresh whole salmon.

•     So far this year, 66,000 tonnes of trout have been exported for NOK 3.6 billion.
•     There is an increase in volume of 22 per cent, while the value increased by NOK 243 million, or 7 per cent.

Decline for fresh cod

•     Norway exported 2,000 tonnes of fresh cod, including fillets, worth NOK 94 million in November.
•     Export volume fell by 32 per cent.
•     Export value fell by NOK 47 million, or 33 per cent, compared with November last year.
•     Denmark, Sweden and Germany were the largest markets for fresh cod from Norway in November.

“Some bad weather in November has led to fewer landings of fresh cod, and this is also reflected in exports”, says Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

•     So far this year, 46,000 tonnes of fresh cod have been exported for NOK 2.1 billion.
•     This is a reduction in volume of 7 per cent, while export value fell by NOK 115 million, or 5 per cent.

Lower demand for frozen cod

•     Norway exported 6,800 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 276 million in November.
•     Export volume fell by 7 per cent
•     Export value fell by NOK 35 million, or 11 per cent, compared with November last year.
•     China, the United Kingdom and Lithuania were the largest markets for frozen cod from Norway in November.

“The decline in volume and falling prices for frozen whole cod is the reason for the decline in value. For frozen fillets, there is still growth, both in volume and price. This can be seen in connection with the fact that several markets are now experiencing a new closure”, says Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Growth in the UK

The United Kingdom is a market that saw growth for both frozen whole cod and frozen fillet of cod in November.

“This is probably due to both a need to secure fish before the turn of the year and the transition to Brexit, but also an increased need for frozen fillets from the grocery trade now that the country has closed down again», says Hans Frode Kielland Asmyhr, the Norwegian Seafood Council's seafood envoy to the UK.

•     So far this year, 65,100 tonnes of frozen cod have been exported for NOK 2.9 billion.
•     The volume is unchanged, while the value increased by NOK 148 million, or 5 per cent.

A challenging market for clipfish

•     Norway exported 7,600 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 425 million in November.
•     Export volume fell by 15 per cent.
•     Export value fell by NOK 110 million, or 21 per cent, compared with November last year.
•     Portugal, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were the largest markets for Norwegian clipfish in November.

“We have seen a decline for clipfish of both cod and saithe in November. Although there is still growth in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, it is not enough to offset a continued weak trend in exports to Brazil”, says Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Historical growth

“Sales of clipfish have been historically good in the Dominican Republic throughout the corona period. Volume and value are at an all-time high, with an increase of 20 per cent and 38 per cent respectively for Norwegian saithe clipfish. This is partly because quarantine requirements and curfews have led to people staying at home, where 70 per cent of clipfish is consumed. At the same time, good support schemes have maintained and to some extent increased purchasing power”, says Øystein Valanes, seafood envoy to Brazil for the Norwegian Seafood Council.

•     So far this year, 74,700 tonnes of clipfish have been exported for NOK 3.9 billion.
•     There is a reduction in volume of 13 per cent, while the value fell by NOK 528 million, or 12 per cent.

Lower prices for salted fish

•     Norway exported 2,200 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 106 million in November.
•     There is an increase in volume of 34 percent.
•     Export value increased by NOK 25 million, or 30 per cent, compared with November last year.
•     Portugal, Italy and Canada were the largest markets for Norwegian salted fish in November.

“The volume growth for salted fish continues in November. Since July, export volumes of whole salted fish of cod have been significantly higher than in the same period in 2019, but at significantly lower prices than at the beginning of the year. From April to November, the price of salted whole cod fell by 23 per cent, measured in Norwegian kroner. This is happening as a result of a fall in demand in important markets”, says Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

•     So far this year, 24,500 tonnes of salted fish have been exported for NOK 1.4 billion.
•     There is an increase in volume of 7 per cent, while the value increased by NOK 143 million, or 11 per cent.

Difficult times for dried fish

•     Norway exported 404 tonnes of stockfish worth NOK 74 million in November.
•     There is a decrease in export volume of 36 percent.
•     Export value fell by NOK 57 million, or 44 per cent, compared with November last year.
•     Italy, Croatia and the USA were the largest markets for Norwegian stockfish in November.

“The main reason for the fall in November is due to significantly lower export volumes of whole stockfish of cod to Italy”, says Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The Italian market is complicated

“The decline to Italy is mainly due to new closures, although they are not as extensive as this winter. This means that a large part of the restaurant market and several of the traditional outlets for stockfish, such as fish markets, fishmongers and fishing cars, are closed. Stockfish is simply less available to the Italian consumer. At the same time, it is gratifying to see increasing growth for ready-to-eat stockfish products in supermarkets”, says Trym Eidem Gundersen the Norwegian Seafood Council's seafood envoy to Italy.

•     So far this year, 3,600 tonnes of stockfish have been exported for NOK 644 million.
•     There is a reduction in volume of 14 per cent, while the value fell by NOK 132 million, or 17 per cent.

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