Photo: Norwegian Seafood Council

International Market Situation for Norwegian King Crab, Snow Crab, and Coldwater Prawn

NORWAY
Thursday, November 07, 2024, 06:40 (GMT + 9)

Fall in volume and value for king crab

• Norway exported 147 tonnes of king crab worth NOK 80 million in October
• The value fell by NOK 20 million, or 20 per cent compared to the same month last year
• Volume fell by 28 per cent
• USA, Tunisia and France were the largest markets for king crab in October

The USA was the largest market for live and frozen king crab in October, with 94 tonnes worth NOK 50 million. Lower supply compared with last year meant that the total volume fell by 27 per cent in volume and 23 per cent in value compared with the same month last year.

Affected by lower quotas

"A decline in the supply of king crab in Norway as a result of lower quotas and increased supply of Russian live king crab in Asia are the main reasons why both export volume and value have fallen compared with October last year," says Josefine Voraa, Head of Shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Tunisia emerged as a new market for frozen king crab in October with an export value of NOK 4 million, compared with nothing the year before. The export volume ended at 13 tonnes.

The 2025 quota advice published on 1 November recommends a total red king crab quota of 1,510 tonnes, which is an increase of 544 tonnes compared to this year.

Low season for snow crab

• Norway exported 2 tonnes of snow crab worth NOK 433,000 in October
• The value fell by NOK 3 million, or 88 per cent, compared with the same month last year
• Volume fell by 95 per cent

In anticipation of a new snow crab season, only small volumes are being exported.

1 January marks the start of a new fishing season with a total quota for snow crab of 12,725 tonnes. This is an increase of 2,425 tonnes compared with this year.

Strong October for prawns

• Norway exported 3,776 tonnes of prawn to a value of NOK 183 million in October
• The value increased by NOK 83 million, or 82 per cent, compared with the same month last year.
• This is a growth in volume of 126 per cent
• Denmark, the UK and Iceland were the largest markets for prawns in October

"A strong prawn fishery in the Barents Sea with increased landings of both frozen industrial prawns and frozen cooked shell prawns resulted in a solid volume increase in prawn exports for the three largest products - frozen raw, frozen cooked and cooked prawns", says Josefine Voraa, Head of Shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Largest growth to the UK and Denmark

Exports of prepared prawn totalled 1,101 tonnes, with a value of NOK 100 million. This represents volume growth of 50 per cent and value growth of 51 per cent. The biggest growth was to the UK and Denmark, with 380 tonnes and 242 tonnes respectively.

Exports of frozen raw prawns to Iceland totalled 1,400 tonnes in October, with a value of NOK 27 million. This is 460 tonnes more than in the same month last year.

Exports to Iceland increase

"If we look at exports so far this year, 7,800 tonnes of raw, frozen industrial prawns have gone to the Icelandic industry. This is an increase in volume of 96 per cent," says Josefine Voraa.

Exports of frozen, cooked shell prawns have also seen a strong increase in volume this month, with 1,139 tonnes compared with 401 tonnes last year. An increase of 184 per cent.

China and Denmark were the largest recipients of frozen, cooked shell prawns in October, with 355 tonnes and 350 tonnes respectively. 

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