Photo: Stockfile

Norwegian exports of herring and mackerel

Decline for herring

•     Norway exported 142,200 tonnes of herring worth NOK 1.8 billion in the first half of the year.
•     The volume fell by 15 per cent.
•     The value fell by NOK 67 million, or 4 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.
•     Poland, Egypt and Lithuania were the most important markets for Norwegian herring in the first half of the year.

The herring market is largely supply-controlled, and it is therefore important to look at the supply when exports are to be assessed.

“For Norwegian spring-spawning herring (NVG), the quota has been reduced by 8 per cent this year compared with 2021. However, landings of herring in the first half of the year have been reduced by 18 per cent compared with the same period last year. The decline is due to challenging fishing conditions with a lot of bad weather and that parts of the fleet were busy with capelin fishing in Iceland at the same time as the herring fishing was going on”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Manager for Pelagic Species with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Early start to the fishing season

The war in Ukraine has affected the export of herring both directly to Ukraine, but also to Lithuania, which is a transit market for exports to several markets in Eastern Europe.

“With regard to North Sea herring, the quota was set at 21 per cent compared with 2021. 99,000 tonnes have been landed here, compared with 72,000 tonnes last year, an increase of 38 per cent. Due to a lack of access to fishing in British waters and an increased quota, the North Sea herring season started earlier than usual. It has produced a lot of small herring with variable quality, which has led to a larger share going to the production of fishmeal and fish oil”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen.

Photo: Norges Sildesalgslag / Petter Hepsø

Good demand in the market

In the first half of last year, 18,000 tonnes went to fishmeal and oil, while in the same period this year, the figure was 50,000 tonnes.

“This means that even though the landings of North Sea herring have been significantly larger than last year, there has not been much more available for export”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen.

General good demand in the markets, less supply and a shortage of individual products have sent prices upwards. Prices have increased for all the most important herring products compared with the first half of last year.

Herring is an inexpensive protein

“The price increase means that there is beginning to be resistance in individual markets for some products, but at the same time the general price increase for food means that herring is still a reasonably affordable source of protein in the marketplace”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen.

In June, there was a decline in both export volume and value for herring:

•     17,000 tonnes of herring worth NOK 237 million were exported.
•     There is a decrease in export volume of 40 per cent.
•     Export value fell by NOK 74 million, or 24 per cent, compared with June last year.

Photo: Norges Sildesalgslag - Camilla Klævold (2020)

Fall in export value of mackerel

•     Norway exported 84,200 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 1.6 billion in the first half of the year.
•     There is a decrease in export volume of 28 per cent.
•     Export value fell by NOK 188 million, or 10 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.
•     South Korea, China and Japan were the largest markets for Norwegian mackerel in the first half of the year.

Like herring, mackerel exports are largely supply-controlled. In addition, the fishing and export season starts in one year and ends in the next. This presents some challenges when comparing half-year figures.

Photo: Norges Sildesalgslag

Impact of bad weather in January and February

“Lack of access to mackerel fishing in British waters means that Norwegian boats do not fish for mackerel in January and February as they did before. Thus, only foreign boats deliver mackerel at the beginning of the year. As for the herring fishery, the mackerel fishery was affected by bad weather, and this resulted in a lower volume being landed”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Manager for Pelagic Species with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

If we compare the first half of this year with the same period in 2021, just 56,000 tonnes were fished, compared with 75,000 tonnes a year earlier. A decrease of 25 per cent.

Strong demand

“At the same time, demand for Norwegian mackerel is strong in the markets. Scarce supply and strong demand have raised prices significantly. The average price of frozen mackerel under 600 grams, which accounted for 93 per cent of exports, was NOK 18.41 per kg in the first half of this year, compared with NOK 14.82 per kg in the same period last year, an increase of 24 per cent”, says Johnsen.

Asia is the most important destination for Norwegian mackerel, accounting for 67 per cent of exports, in the first half of the year.

Photo: Norwegian Seafood Council

Growth in China and Thailand

“The total decline in mackerel exports results in a decline in most markets also in Asia, but China and Thailand stand out with growth also in this period.

Growth is particularly strong in Thailand, where exports increased by 69 per cent in the first half of the year. Removal of coronary restrictions and thus increased restaurant consumption is an important explanation for the growth”, says Jan Eirik Johnsen.

In June, there was a fall in export volume, but growth in value:

•     7,900 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 168 million were exported.
•     There is a reduction in export volume of 13 per cent.
•     Export value increased by NOK 22 million, or 15 per cent, compared with June last year.

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