Herring exports are hitting record highs as the country shifts towards processed fish fillets, while the mackerel market is facing record export volum

Norwegian Pelagic Exports Hit Record Highs for Herring While Mackerel Supplies Tighten

NORWAY
Monday, May 11, 2026, 00:20 (GMT + 9)

Fillet Demand Drives Unprecedented Revenue Growth Despite Falling Mackerel Volumes

OSLO — The Norwegian seafood industry is witnessing a dramatic divergence in its pelagic sector. While herring exports have surged to record-breaking heights driven by a shift toward processed fillets, the mackerel market is grappling with its lowest export volumes in over a decade despite achieving record-setting prices.

Source: Norwegian Seafood Council

Herring Exports Surge 53%

In April , Norway exported 13,871 tons of herring with a total valuation of $26.97 million ( NOK 290 million ). This represents a staggering 53 percent increase in value—an additional $9.3 million —compared to the same month last year. Export volume also saw a significant boost, rising by 51 percent .

The primary drivers for this growth were Poland , Belarus , and Lithuania . Notably, the market has shifted from whole frozen fish to high-value processed products. Frozen fillets dominated the April trade, with skinless fillets of NVG herring accounting for 80 percent of all fillet exports.

“Herring exports are maintaining a strong momentum in April as well. The good herring catch last autumn and this winter is resulting in strong export volumes. With good price levels, a solid record for export value has been set for the month of April at NOK 290 million,” says Jan Eirik Johnsen , Head of Pelagic Species at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Looking ahead, the North Sea herring season commenced on April 29. While this year's quota of 80,500 tons is lower than the 115,000 tons seen in 2025 , the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has provided optimistic advice for 2027 , suggesting a quota of nearly 400,000 tons —a 38 percent increase over 2026 projections.

“It is positive that the results from completed surveys provide a basis for higher quotas. For the pelagic industry, and particularly the onshore processing sector, the low quotas for many key species are challenging, so any positive news is welcomed,” Johnsen added.

Source: Norwegian Seafood Council

Mackerel Prices Hit Historic Peak Amid Scarcity

In contrast, the mackerel sector faced a sharp contraction. Norway exported only 3,952 tons of mackerel in April , valued at $20.18 million ( NOK 217 million ). This marks a 34 percent drop in value and a 60 percent collapse in volume compared to April of last year.

“The trend of low export volumes continues, whilst the price remains stable at around NOK 50 ($4.65) per kg for whole frozen mackerel. With just under 4,000 tons, we must go back to 2011 to find lower export volumes,” noted Johnsen .

Despite the low supply, prices for mackerel fillets reached a historic high of $9.49 ( NOK 102 ) per kg, breaking the previous record set in February 2026.

Source: Norwegian Seafood Council

Shift in Global Markets

A surprising geographical shift occurred in April , with Europe overtaking Asia as the primary destination for Norwegian macerel. Europe imported 1,550 tons , while Asia took 1,050 tons . Leading the European demand were Ukraine , Lithuania , Romania , and Bulgaria , while the US and Vietnam remained key global partners.

Johnsen attributed this shift to currency fluctuations: “This is likely largely linked to currency developments, where the krone has strengthened more against the dollar than against the euro. The Asian markets are largely tied to trade in dollars, whilst the Norwegian krone has strengthened significantly against both the Korean won and the Japanese yen recently.”

🇯🇵 Japanese

抜本なニシンincreased production and に対し, サバは insufficient supply and で価格が高腾: Market overview of ノルウェーproduced ペラジック鱼の

The demand for F&R has been reduced due to supply reduction, which has led to an unprecedented increase in earnings.

The オスロ, ノルウェー- ノルウェーのseafood industry では, ペラジック (surface fish) department drama's deviant が见られます.ニシン output はフィレ processed products へのシフトにより past highest を update している Party で、サバ market は past 10 The lowest output of the year has been recorded, and the highest output in the past has been updated and the situation has been directly faced.

Nisu's output increased sharply by 53%

In April , 290 million クローは( 26.97 millionドル) was equivalent to 13,871 トンのニシンをoutput しました.これは Compared with the same month last year, 53パーセント( equivalent to 9.3 million ドル), の価値嗗となり, and amazing なgrowth, げています. The output volume is 51パーセントincreased and greatly expanded.

The driving force behind the growth of となったのは,ポーランド,ベラルーシ,リトアニアです. Special, market-friendly frozen fish, high-priced processed products, and high-priced products. April 's Frozen Frozen Frozen Mainstream Frozen, NVG's ニシンの皮なしフィレがフィレ outputs all 80 パーセントを开户めました.

「ニシン output is strong and strong in April , and it is maintained. Last autumn, this winter, it is good.なニシン鱼が, strong な output に knot び つ て い ま す, good な価 grid level もphase ま っ て. Output in April was 290 million yuan , the highest record in the past .・The person in charge of the シーフード・カウンシルのペラジックkind,ヤン・エイリック・ヨンセン之は书べています.

Tomorrow's Noble Street and Hokkaido Fishing will open on April 29th . This year’s fee is 80,500 トンと, 2025の115,000トンを下注っていますが、International Conference on Ocean Exploration (ICES) 2027に向けて楽観なassisted words and actionsっており、The forecast for 2026 is about 38 パーセントlast time, about 400,000 トンの枠をshows the price.

"It's over To the industry, special onshore processing department.て、多くのMain species のlow枠はDifficult situation であるため、いかなるforwardきなニュースも歓英されます」とヨンセンshi は发け加えました.

Arrival of ピークに who is in charge of supply shortage

The に, サバ department of 対 Teru, the は Jiji な narrowed に 见AMA dance わ れ ま し た. The output ofノルウェーが4月にしたサバはわずか3,952 トン, 価格は217 million クローネ( 20.18 million ドル) でした. Comparison of the results of the same month of the previous year, the amount of 34 , and the result of 60,000 .

「The output volume is low, the output is low, the output is low, and the box is frozen 1kg, 50クローネ( 4.65ドル) The output is stable and stable, and the output is 4,000トンを下注るのは, 2011まで遡らなければなりません」とヨンセン之は気ました.

Insufficient supply of にもかかわらず, サバフィレの価格は1kgあたり102クローネ（9.49ドル）という歴史的高値に达し, In February 2026 , the previous record was established and updated.

グローバルMarketのシフト

In April , the main destinations for には and ノルウェーproduced サバのとしてヨーロッパがアジアを Chase い日すという、Unexpected geographical change が出こりました.ヨーロッパが1,550トンをInputしたのに対し、アジアは1,050トンでした. European ではウクライナ,リトアニア,ルーマニア,ブルガリアが require を towing し, meters It is important to maintain the status of the national high- tech country .

The ヨンセンfamily's はこの変化を is the substitute 変动に knot びつけています. 「これは是什么意思に大きくrelationsしていると思われます．クローネは対ドルよりも対ユーロでより Strengthen されましたアジアmarket は主にド.ルconstructed by ての淳ついていますが、一方でノルウェー・クローネはRecently, Korea 's Japan 's economy has risen sharply.

🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese

Norwegian herring exports hit a record high as tight mackerel supplies caused prices to soar.

Despite declining mackerel sales, demand for fish fillets still drove unprecedented revenue growth.

Oslo, Norway — Norway's deep-sea fishing sector is experiencing a dramatic divergence. Herring exports are hitting record highs as the country shifts towards processed fish fillets, while the mackerel market is facing record export volumes in over a decade, yet prices are at an all-time high.

Herring exports surge 53%

In April , Norway exported 13,871 tonnes of herring, valued at US$26.97 million ( NOK 290 million ). This represents a remarkable 53% increase in value compared to the same period last year—an increase of US$9.3 million . Export volume also saw a significant increase, rising by 51% .

The main drivers of this growth were Poland , Belarus , and Lithuania . Notably, the market has shifted from whole frozen fish to high-value processed products. Frozen fish fillets dominated trade in April , with NVG skinned herring fillets accounting for 80% of total fillet exports .

“Herring exports also maintained strong momentum in April . A good herring catch this fall and winter resulted in robust export volumes. With favorable price levels, April 's export value reached a solid record of 290 million Norwegian kroner ,” said Jan Eirik Johnsen, Head of Distant Species at the Norwegian Seafood Council .

Looking ahead, the North Sea herring season began on April 29. While this year's quota is 80,500 tons , down from 115,000 tons in 2025 , the International Council for Marine Surveys (ICES) has provided an optimistic forecast for 2027 , suggesting a quota of nearly 400,000 tons — a 38% increase from the 2026 projection .

“The findings of the completed survey provide a basis for higher quotas, which is very positive. Low quotas for many key species are extremely challenging for the deep-sea industry, especially for the onshore processing sector, so any positive news is welcome,” Johnsen added.

Mackerel prices reached an all-time high due to scarcity.

In contrast, the mackerel sector is facing a sharp contraction. Norway exported only 3,952 tonnes of mackerel in April , worth US $20.18 million ( NOK 217 million ). Compared to the same month last year, this represents a 34% drop in value and a 60% plunge in export volume .

“The trend of persistently low export volumes continues, while the price of whole frozen mackerel remains stable at around 50 Norwegian kroner ( US $4.65 ) per kilogram. With exports below 4,000 tons , we have to go back to 2011 to find even lower export records,” Johnsen noted.

Despite supply shortages, the price of mackerel fillets hit a record high of US$9.49 ( 102 Norwegian kroner ) per kilogram, breaking the previous record set in February 2026 .

The global market landscape is changing.

April saw a surprising geographical shift, with Europe surpassing Asia as the primary destination for Norwegian mackerel. Europe imported 1,550 tonnes , while Asia accounted for 1,050 tonnes . Within Europe, Ukraine , Lithuania , Romania , and Bulgaria accounted for the largest demand, while the United States and Vietnam remained key global partners.

Johnsen attributed this shift to exchange rate volatility: "It is likely largely related to exchange rate developments, with the Norwegian krone appreciating more against the dollar than against the euro. Asian markets are largely tied to dollar trade, and the Norwegian krone has recently appreciated significantly against both the South Korean won and the Japanese yen ."

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www.seafood.media

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