Senior adviser Roald Oen of the Sildelaget organisation

Positive first quarter for herring, mackerel and blue whiting

NORWAY
Friday, April 10, 2020, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

Coronavirus notwithstanding, first-hand sales in Norges Sildesalgslag Sales Team for Q1 2020 will end at NOK 2.9 billion, up NOK 900 million from Q1 2019

- Both foreign and Norwegian vessels have contributed to the increase. Foreign vessels have contributed to raising the first-hand value by NOK 330 million, while Norwegian vessels have contributed to raising the value by NOK 570 million, says senior adviser Roald Oen of the Sildelaget organisation.

 According to Oen, it is primarily increased mackerel quantity that adds up value for the foreign vessels.

Photo: Norges Sildesalgslag

- In total, foreign vessels traded 69,300 tonnes in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 43,800 tonnes in the first quarter of 2019. Alone then mackerel contributed a value increase of NOK 290 million, despite the fact that the price achieved was NOK 13, 10 per kg in 2020 against NOK 14.10 per kg in 2019. NVG herring, blue whiting and horse mackerel are the other species that have contributed to the value increase, says Oen

For the Norwegian fleet, NVG herring, blue whiting and mackerel all add up first-hand value. For herring and blue whiting, there is a rise in prices, while for mackerel there is an increased quantity, according to Oen.

- The main reason for the increase for herring is increased price from NOK 4.00 per kg in the first quarter of 2019 to NOK 5.50 per kg in the first quarter of 2020. Also for blue whiting, the increase is due to increased price, from NOK 2.42 per kg in the first quarter of 2019 at a preliminary price of NOK 3.12 per kg in the first quarter of 2020. For the mackerel, the increase is due to the increase in the quantity of fishing by 3,000 tonnes to 13,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2020, says Oen 

Export

- A positive development in first-hand sales we also see in the export figures for the first quarter, says Oen

The export value of mackerel and herring increased from NOK 1.70 to 2.45 billion from 2019 to 2020. Of this increase of NOK 750 million, 500 million is related to mackerel, mainly due to the volume increased by 30,000 tonnes, and 250 million to herring.  

- With unchanged export volume of herring from the first quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2020, ie 105,500 tonnes of product weight in both quarters, the increase has several reasons, says Oen 

The reasons are the increased price for round-frozen herring and herring roe and that the product composition for exports has changed by including more processed products at higher prices in the shopping basket showing exports in Q1 2020 compared to Q1 2019. 

-This mentioned reason has thus helped to raise the average price for total herring exports from NOK 8.00 per kg in the first quarter of 2019 to NOK 10.33 per kg in the first quarter of 2020, says Oen.

Mackerel retail pack Photo: Norwegian Seafood Council

Oen also points out that large currency movements and a weak krone have contributed to positive prices and values ​​throughout the first quarter. 

- We would also like to point out that the loss of capelin fishing in Iceland and in the Barents Sea in the last two years has contributed to high demand and good prices for herring roe. Uncertainty due to the COVID-19 outbreak, among other things related to currency movements, logistics / transport, export / market and payment / settlement, can of course affect the relatively positive picture we have registered so far in 2020. However, this remains to be seen, says Oen.

- So far, we can only hope that the world community is overcome with the corona virus and that one can restore the good everyday life again, concludes Oen.

Author: Roar Bjånesøy/Norges Sildesalgslag  (Norwegian)

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