The Norwegian seafood industry has greatly expanded its presence in the Chinese market via the China International Import Expo (CIIE), said a business leader of the industry.
“The CIIE is an excellent platform for those looking to explore the Chinese market. We were quite pleased with our achievements from last year’s exhibition. And this year we’ve seen a 50 percent increase in the number of Norwegian seafood companies participating in the expo,” said Andreas Thorud, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) director for the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, in a recent interview here with Xinhua.
Thorud highlighted the CIIE’s growing pivotal role in Norwegian seafood enterprises’ business expansion in China and across Asia.
Norway ranks second behind China in seafood exports globally, boasting an export value of 150 billion Norwegian kroner (about 13.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022. The seafood industry stands as Norway’s second-largest industrial sector, second to the oil and gas industry, employing over 100,000 individuals, 2 percent of the nation’s population.
The NSC, operating under Norway’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, is dedicated to enhancing the reputation and value of Norwegian seafood. Last November, the NSC debuted at the fifth CIIE in Shanghai, heading a delegation of eight Norwegian seafood companies.
China remains the most substantial market for Norwegian seafood in Asia, with products such as salmon continually expanding its market share. According to data released by the NSC, in the first three quarters of 2023, China imported 31,400 metric tons of salmon from Norway, valued at 4.19 billion Norwegian kroner (about 381.3 million dollars) — a surge of 63 percent and 89 percent respectively year on year.
Besides salmon, Norway exported significant quantities of Arctic cod, mackerel, and shellfish, among other seafood products, to China. Total exports amounted to 109,000 metric tons, valued at 6.44 billion Norwegian kroner (about 586.0 million dollars) in the first three quarters of 2023.
The NSC is taking 12 companies to the sixth CIIE, which runs in Shanghai from Sunday to Friday.
Thorud indicated a burgeoning interest from various Norwegian seafood companies in attending the expo, be it the nation’s most prominent salmon farms, or medium and smaller family-run enterprises focused on mackerel and cold water prawn fishing.