Norwegian salmon prices remain flat, futures pricing trends negative

The average price of a kilogram of Atlantic salmon farmed in Norway has remained releatively flat over the past week, increasing by just NOK 0.09 (USD 0.01, EUR 0.01), or 0.11 percent, according to The Nasdaq Salmon Index.

The index, which provides weekly sales updates and a weighted average price for fresh, head-on gutted Atlantic superior salmon from Norway, found the average per-kilogram price of salmon has increased NOK 5.90 (USD 0.54, EUR 0.50) over the past four weeks, and is up 13.51 percent, or NOK 9.98 (USD 0.91, EUR 0.84) over the past 12 weeks.

According to the Oslo Børs Fish Pool Price Status, Norway exported 22,243 metric tons (MT) of salmon in week 49 of 2023, down from 23,460 MT exported in the corresponding week of 2022, and down from the 22,910 MT exported in week 48 of 2023.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Salmon Council's weekly report on Norwegian seafood exports indicated that the country exported 22,342 MT of salmon and trout. The largest volume of salmon was exported to the E.U., with 16,399 MT.

In Europe, Poland received 3,777 MT of Norwegian salmon, down from last week’s 4,438 MT; France imported 2,714 MT, up from 2,663 MT; the Netherlands imported 2,079 MT, up from 1,849 MT; the United Kingdom imported 1,844 MT, up from last week’s 1,521 MT; Spain imported 1,686 MT, up from 1,425 MT; Denmark imported 1,441 MT, down from 2,138 MT; and Italy imported 1,408 MT, up from 1,365 MT.

China received 788 MT, down from last week’s 856 MT, and the U.S. imported 437 MT, slightly down from last week’s 439 MT.

One- to 2-kilogram salmon accounted for 0.50 percent of total sales, with an average price of NOK 69.88 (USD 6.38, EUR 5.92), a decline of NOK 1.45 (USD 0.13, EUR 0.12) over last week, Nasdaq reported. Two-to-3-kilogram salmon accounted for 10.16 percent of total sales, and sold for an average of NOK 77.35 (USD 7.06, EUR 6.55), up NOK .99 (USD 0.01, EUR 0.01).

Salmon in the 3- to 4-kilogram range comprised 24.18 percent of all fish sold and had a per-kilogram average price of NOK 82.65 (USD 7.55, EUR 7.00), an increase of NOK 0.56 (USD 0.01, EUR 0.01). The 4-to-5-kilogram category, comprising 35.41 percent of total sales, saw its average price increase by NOK 0.01 (USD 0.01, EUR 0.01), to NOK 83.74 (USD 7.65, EUR 7.09).

Norwegian salmon between 5 and 6 kilograms, representing 19.94 percent of total sales, increased to an average per-kilogram price of NOK 85.72 (USD 7.83, EUR 7.26), up NOK 0.22 (USD 0.01, EUR 0.01), while 6- to 7-kilogram salmon, which accounted for 7.13 percent of the total distribution, sold for an average of NOK 88.74 (USD 8.08, EUR 7.49), a decline of NOK 0.88 (USD 0.01, EUR 0.01). The price of salmon weighing between 7 and 8 kilograms increased to NOK 93.22 (USD 8.52, EUR 7.89), and made up 1.86 percent of the total distribution. Salmon in the 8- to 9-kilogram range increased the most week over week, rising NOK 2.26 (USD 0.20, EUR 0.19)  to NOK 100.32 (USD 9.16, EUR 8.49). 

Fish Pool reported December's future pricing declined to NOK 84.00 (USD 7.68, EUR 7.11) from last week’s NOK 85.50 (USD 8.02, EUR 7.30). The next few months also declined, with January dropping to NOK 104.90 (USD 9.71, EUR 8.93) from last week’s 105.90 (USD 9.67, EUR 8.97). February also dropped to NOK 108.60 (USD 9.93, EUR 9.20), down from NOK 109.60 (USD 10.01, EUR 9.28), and March dropped to 110.20 (USD 10.08, EUR 9.33) from NOK 111.20 (USD 10.15, EUR 9.42).

Futures pricing for Q1 of 2024 was reported at NOK 107.90 (USD 9.68, EUR 9.14), down from NOK 108.9 (USD 10.09, EUR 9.27), while Q2 was one of the only futures with an increase, reaching  NOK 113.10 (USD 10.34, EUR 9.58).

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