Decreased pelagic fish exports in the first quarter

Norway exported pelagic fish worth NOK 1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2015. This is a decrease of 19 per cent compared to the first quarter in 2014. Herring was exported for NOK 498 million, a decrease of 31 per cent year-on-year. Mackerel exports reached a total of NOK 544 million – a decrease of 17 per cent.

During March, herring exports reached a total of NOK 123 million. A decrease of 14 per cent compared wih March 2014. Mackerel exports totalled NOK 113 million, an increase of 5 per cent year-on-year.

"The decline in exports is a result of a smaller herring quota and reduced mackerel prices" says Kristin Lien at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Lithuania imports the most Norwegian herring

27,000 tonnes of frozen whole herring was exported in the first quarter. A decrease of 48 per cent compared to the same period last year. The average price achieved for frozen whole herring in the first quarter was NOK 7.67 per kg – an increase of 12 per cent year-on-year. The largest importers of frozen whole herring were Ukraine and Egypt, with 6,000 tonnes each.

Measured by volume, 18,000 tonnes of frozen herring products were exported in the first quarter. A reduction of 34 per cent. The average price of frozen herring fillet products in the first quarter was NOK 13.60 per kg. This represents an increase of 20 per cent year-on-year. The largest recipient countries of frozen herring fillet products were Germany with 5,000 tonnes and Poland with 4,000 tonnes.

4,000 tonnes of frozen whole herring and 3,000 tons of frozen herring fillet products were sold to Lithuania. A significant part of this volume is exported further to regional markets such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other neighbouring countries.

Turkey was the largest export market for mackerel

49,000 tonnes of frozen whole mackerel was exported in the first quarter. A decrease of 6 per cent compared to the same period last year. The average price of frozen whole mackerel in the first quarter was NOK 10.44 per kg. This is a decrease of 12 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2014. The largest recipient countries were Turkey with 7,000 tonnes and China with 6,000 tonnes.

Decreased exports of capelin 

Capelin worth NOK 72 million was exported in the first quarter. This is a decrease of 27 per cent compared to the same period last year. The average price of frozen whole capelin was NOK 5.15 per kg in the first quarter. An increase of 9 per cent year-on-year. Capelin was sold mostly to China and the Netherlands. From the Netherlands, the capelin is llikely to be exported further to markets in Asia.