Monthly exports stabilize
“The salmon market has developed broadly as expected following the exclusion of Norwegian salmon from the Russian market,” says Bjørn-Erik Stabell, Marketing Manager for Salmon at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
“Exports to Eastern Europe have returned, increasing exports to core markets within the EU. Particularly pleasing is the positive development of the largest export market France. This is a market that has seen a negative trend in recent years, but that trend has now reversed,” he adds.
84,739 tonnes of salmon were exported in May, an increase of 4 per cent compared with the same period last year.
The price achieved for fresh whole salmon in May reached NOK 38.47 (£3.21) per kilo, 5 per cent lower than in May 2014. Salmon prices in May were 4 per cent lower than the average price achieved in April.
Year to date
So far this year, salmon exports have been worth NOK 18.1 billion (£1.5bn) – NOK 97 million more than during the same period in 2014. Export volumes so far this year have totalled 408,000 tonnes, an increase of 7 per cent year-on-year.
EU exports
Norway exported salmon worth almost NOK 2.7 billion (£2.25m) to the EU in May. This is an increase of 9 per cent year-on-year. Exports by volume reached 65,504 tonnes in May, up by 14 per cent compared with May 2014. Poland, France and Britain were the largest export markets for Norwegian salmon in May.
Asia and the US
Salmon exports to Asia increased by 6 per cent to total NOK 521 million (£43m) in May. Growth was driven by a marked increase in volume to 1,331 tonnes, which is 13 per cent more than during the same month last year.
Salmon exports to the United States totalled NOK 180 million (£15m) in May. This is an increase of 13 per cent year-on-year. Exported volumes rose by 35 per cent compared to May 2014.
Trout
Trout sales amounted to NOK 157 million (£13m) in May, a reduction of 22 per cent compared to May last year. Export volumes were also down by 15 per cent to total 3,760 tonnes. Belarus was Norway’s largest export market for trout in May with volumes increasing by 131 per cent to a monthly total of 1,107 tonnes.
