Atlantic herring downward trend continues

Atlantic herring downward trend in prices and sales has contuinued in the first months of this year. First-sale prices have decreased by 32% from the same period last year.

A new EUMOFA monthly highlights report says that in 2017, extra–EU imports of Atlantic herring reached 182.100 tonnes and EUR 226 million. This was a 6% increase in volume terms and a 21% decrease in value from 2016. The top-three import markets in 2017 were Denmark, Poland and Sweden, representing more than 60% of total value and 65% of volumes.

"EU imports from Norway reached 142.000 tonnes worth EUR 178 million in 2017, representing 79% of total EU import value of herring in 2017. This was a 5% increase in volume from 2016 and a 23% decrease in value. The import value of herring from the 2nd largest supplier, Iceland, totalled EUR 29 million in 2017, a 22% decrease over 2016," the report states. "In 2017, 80% of herring imports value consisted of frozen products, mainly fillets and whole products from Norway, and fillets from Iceland.

In Denmark, Atlantic herring first-sales price decreased significantly in 2017 compared to both 2016 and 2015. The average price in 2017 was 0,48 EUR/kg, a 24% decrease from 2016. The downward trend has continued in the first months of 2018, when first sales decreased 32% compared to the same period in 2017.

This downward first-sales price trend was also seen in other supplying nations such as Norway. This can be seen in the light of larger quotas and increased competition for herring globally. The lack of access to the Russian market is also especially noticeable when the supply increases."

Follow catch developments and other aspects of the seafood industry on seadatacenter.com

Please contact us at info@seadatacenter.com for more information.

Copyright © 2018 Sea Data Center, All rights reserved.