Image: Norwegian Seafood Council

Trade situation for Norwegian herring and mackerel

Low season for herring

• Norway exported 11,270 tonnes of herring worth NOK 185 million in April
• Export value fell by NOK 37 million, or 17 per cent, compared to April last year
• Export volume fell by 23 per cent
• Poland, Egypt, and Germany were the biggest markets for herring in April

April is low season for fishing for herring, and only 170 tonnes of North Sea herring were landed last month.

Norwegian herring in Poland -->

Increased exports to Poland and Germany

Exports are characterized by a lower volume of whole frozen herring and an increase in fillets. Prices are significantly above last year's level (whole frozen is up 18.5 per cent, while the average price of fillets is up 13 per cent) but are stable or falling compared to March this year.

“It is positive that exports are increasing to our important and well-paying fillet markets Poland and Germany. Here, the increase so far this year is 33 per cent in value and 16 per cent in volume”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Manager for Pelagic Species with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Value growth for mackerel

• Norway exported 7,594 tonnes of mackerel to a value of NOK 168 million in April
• Export value increased by NOK 12 million, or 8 per cent, compared to April last year
• Export volume fell by 6 per cent
• Vietnam, South Korea, and Thailand were the biggest markets for mackerel in April

Like herring, it is also not fishing season for mackerel in April. Export volumes are therefore on the way down after a long season that started in August and ended in February.

<-- Norwegian mackerel in Vietnam

Good demand in Asia

“So far this year, exports are 10,000 tonnes ahead of last year (13.5 per cent), while the value is up from NOK 1.33 to 1.58 billion, an increase of 19 per cent. There is still good demand in the Asian markets, which we also see in record high prices in local currency, for example in our most important mackerel market Japan”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Manager for Pelagic Species with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Decline to China

There is relatively great stability in mackerel exports, but China stands out with a sharp fall. 4,260 tonnes have been exported so far this year, compared to 13,250 tonnes at the same time last year. This is a decrease of 68 percent.

“This is mainly due to remaining logistical challenges and reduced capacity after the corona pandemic. We also see those exports directly to Japan and to another important processing market, Vietnam, are increasing and taking away the volumes that have usually gone to China”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Manager for Pelagic Species with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Source: Norwegian Seafood Council

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