2024 is a momentous year for Norwegian mackerel.
Release time:
2025-03-07
The year 2024 has been a landmark year for Norwegian mackerel. Data show that Norway exported a total of 313,242 tonnes of mackerel, generating export revenues of NOK 8.3 billion. This not only elevated mackerel to the third-largest seafood export category in Norway but also set a new export record. Compared with 2023, export value increased by NOK 1.6 billion, a rise of 24%, while export volume grew by 2% year on year.
Norwegian mackerel is highly prized in global markets for its exceptional quality. Sourced from the cold, pristine waters of the North Atlantic, this fish is distinguished by its striking, vivid bluish-gray marbling, with rich, succulent flesh and a high content of omega-3 fatty acids, making it exceptionally nutritious. Despite a general decline in global mackerel supplies—driven by reduced availability in key markets such as the Atlantic, Japan, and South Korea—this trend has instead pushed prices higher, boosting Norway’s mackerel export value.
Jan Eirik Johnsen, Head of Pelagic Fish at the Norwegian Seafood Council, stated: “The primary drivers behind the rise in mackerel prices are reduced supply and an increase in average prices. Since 2021, Norway’s mackerel export prices have risen by an average of 75%.”
Notably, the Chinese market staged a robust rebound in 2024, with Norwegian mackerel exports to China posting substantial growth: export volume reached 45,105 tonnes, up 39% year on year, while export value surged to NOK 1.2 billion, a 72% increase over the previous year.
