Norway exported salmon worth NOK 3.5 billion in May. This is the same value as in May 2014, according to analysis from the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Salmon from Norway is in a class by itself among international consumers, according to the latest statistics from the Seafood Council. “Salmon has its natural place in the future,” according to physician, professor and EAT-advisor Alessandro R. Demaio.
”The salmon market has developed broadly as expected following the exclusion of Norwegian salmon to the Russian market”, says Bjørn-Erik Stabell, Marketing Manager for Salmon at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The annual global consumer research conducted by the Seafood Council shows that the public opinion of Norwegian salmon has improved from 64 to 69point in the course of only one year. More than three times of consumers prefer Norwegian salmon compared to salmon from Alaska, which has a good number two ranking.
”Exports to Eastern Europe have returned, increasing exports to core markets within the EU. Particularly pleasing is the positive development of the largest export market France. This is a market that has seen a negative trend in recent years, but that trend has now reversed”, observes Stabell.
“The world looks to the North when it comes to food, which gives food producers from these countries advantages on international markets. At the same time it is evident that the rest of the world cannot eat the way you do in the north. We have to change to a more vegetarian based diet and supplement with fish and poultry instead of red meat,» says Allessandro R. Demaio.
84.739 tons of salmon were exported in May, an increase of 4 per cent compared with the same period last year.
So far this year, salmon exports have been worth NOK 18.1 billion. This is NOK 97 million more than during the same period in 2014. Export volumes so far this year, in total 408.000 tons, an increase of 7 per cent year-on-year.
Last year the international fish farming group Cermaq, with head office in Oslo, were purchased by the Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation. The director of the board, Yu Sato, confirms that the organization’s sustainable profile was a decisive motivation for the acquisition.
Positive Trend for Norwegian Salmon, written by Tor Kjolberg