Norway salmon exports to UK up 20% last week

Overall, Norway’s salmon exports increased by 4% in week 19 compared to the same week in 2019, despite the effect of Covid-19 on markets.

Exports of whole salmon to Hong Kong jumped by 71% year on year, and sales to China were up 28%. Portugal imported an extra 22% of whole Norwegian salmon compared to week 19 last year, with the Netherlands taking an extra 20%, Ukraine 15%, Finland 14% and Taiwan 11%.

The biggest falls in exports were to Japan (44% less than week 19 last year), Thailand (-32%), Lithuania (-31%) and Italy (-29%).

44% growth in China

“The Chinese market has developed very well for Norwegian salmon with a growth of 44% over the past six weeks,” said Victoria Braathen, the NSC’s fisheries envoy to China.

“This could prove an underlying stronger demand than was the expectation for 2020. Aided by low prices in recent weeks, it shows significant growth for Norwegian salmon to China.”

Exports of fresh whole salmon to France decreased last week by 6% to 1,305 tonnes, while exports of fresh fillets were down 8% to 133 tonnes in week 19 against the same week last year.

“While most French shops open from Monday this week, restaurants and coffee shops are still closed,” said Trine Horne, the NSC’s fisheries envoy to France. “A gradual reopening will begin in late May and will be dependent on developments in the regional spread of infection.

“Take away and home delivery is still possible, and cafeterias can now stay open for employees.”

Packaged products

Horne said the retail trade was characterised by strict disease control measures and there was a continued shift towards packaged products.

“Both salmon and cod have been given more shelf space than before with portion packs. Fresh counters that were previously closed down in the coronavirus period have now largely reopened,” said the envoy.

“The shift to increased home consumption in France has so far not compensated for the loss of the restaurant segment. It will therefore be interesting to follow developments in the restaurant segment when the regions are likely to gradually open up again in June.”

The closure of the food service sector and fresh counters saw a slight change of emphasis from whole salmon to fillets last week, although whole fish still made up the lion’s share of exports.

“At week 19, there was an increase in exports of both fresh and frozen fillets of salmon,” said NSC seafood analyst Paul Aandahl.

“We see an increase in fillet production also provides an increase in exports of products. Frozen products of salmon increased by 15% in week 19.”

Price 11% lower

Although farmers have been successful in moving fish, they are making less than they were last year. Exports have been helped by a weak Norwegian krone, and the average export price for fresh whole salmon in week 19 was NOK 54.89 per kilo, a decrease of 11% from the same week last year.

For trout, there was a price drop of 23% to NOK 46.21 compared to week 19 last year.