Russia has for many years been among the most important markets for Norwegian fish export. Now it is the most important market. The total export of Norwegian fish to Europa was € 3,8 Billion, and France and Russia is by far the two most important markets with more than € 1,3 billion of the total European sales. The growth in the Russian market over the last decade has been enormous. In a period of two weeks at the end of 2011 Norway exported the same amount of salmon to Russia as the country did in the whole of 2000, according to website kyst.no.
However, the overall export of Norwegian seafood had an income decline of € 80 million in 2011, which is a decline of 1,2 percent compared to the all time high export in 2010. The total export of Norwegian seafood in 2011 was € 6,6 billion.
The main reason for the decline is not lower production. The production and sales in volume has never been higher than in 2011. However, the lowered market prices especially for salmon, has reduced the income. So while the traditional fish industry had an increased export of € 212 million, the fish farming industry had a decline € 288 million.
- With the current international market situation, the Norwegian seafood industry is very satisfied with the overall results of fish exports in 2011, says managing director Terje E. Martinussen in the Norwegian Seafood association in a press release.
The top 10 markets for Norwegian fish in 2011. (Source: Norges Sjømatråd)
