Norway has exported 2.7 million tonnes of seafood to reach a new record of NOK 99 billion in 2018. This represents a volume increase of 4 per cent and a value increase of 5 per cent, or NOK 4.6 billion compared to 2017. This equates to 37 million meals of seafood every day of 2018, or 25,700 meals per minute.
«Norway exported seafood at record levels totalling NOK 99 billion in 2018. Although we did not pass the magical NOK 100 billion marker, this has been another good year for Norwegian seafood exports. In summary, records were broken for Norwegian seafood, both in terms of export value and export volume in 2018. This despite Brexit, the threat of trade wars and other challenges that have together created unpredictability in the world market. Seafood exports to the EU market have increased due to lower competition and a favourable currency situation against the euro. We see a decline in seafood exports to Asia, as a result of increased competition and continued challenging market access to China», says Renate Larsen, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Over the past 10 years, the value of Norwegian seafood exports has increased by 156 per cent.
The relationship between aquaculture and fisheries has changed little since 2017. Aquaculture accounts for 72 per cent of export value, and 40.5 per cent of the volume of total seafood exports for 2018.
Norway has exported 1.1 million tonnes of aquaculture fish with a value of NOK 71 billion in 2018. Volume has increased by 5 per cent, while the export value has increased by NOK 3.4 billion or 5 per cent from 2017.
Fisheries account for 28 per cent by value, and 59.5 per cent by volume. Norway exported 1.6 million tonnes of fish and shellfish with a total value of NOK 28 billion in 2018. This is an increase of 2 per cent by volume, and NOK 1.2 billion or 4 per cent by value compared to 2017.
«Once again, a new record has been set for Norwegian seafood exports. We have every reason to be proud of that. This is a good and significant result for the Norwegian economy. The seafood industry contributes to value creation and jobs across the country», says Fisheries Minister Harald Tom Nesvik.
«While the value of exports has increased by 60 per cent over the past five years, the volume has increased by almost 10 per cent. Greater volume growth is therefore highly desirable in order to develop the industry further. Our goal is for the industry to continue to grow, and as Minister for Fisheries, I work towards this goal every single day», says Nesvik.
More information at: https://en.seafood.no/news-and-media/news-archive/norwegian-seafood-exports-total-nok-99-billion-in-2018/
Source: Norwegian Seafood Council