China - September 13, 2024

China becomes Norway's biggest export destination in Asia

(Voice_over)

A cargo plane at Oslo airport getting ready to transport salmon to China.

The new route was launched this summer to satisfy China's growing hunger for Norwegian seafood.

(Sound_bite)

Eva Beate Lande, Cargo Director at Avinor:

"The demand is for fresh fish. So, by using this cargo route, we can actually send it in a shorter amount of time, and we can have it there in 24 hours. This means that we can serve the Chinese demand for fresh salmon that we have seen increasing over the last years."

(Stand_up)

Johannes Pleschberger, Reporter:

"Last year, China overtook Japan and South Korea to become Norway's biggest export destination in Asia for fresh salmon. But in the first half of 2024, the export curve went downwards with shipments decreasing by 14% in volume."

(Voice_over)

One of the reasons for this slump was a lower availability of large-sized salmon.

But now, things seem to have turned a corner.

Despite a sharp decline in salmon prices, Norway's weakened currency, the krone, ensured a growth of 21 percent year-on-year in August (month).

And Norway's government hopes that trend will continue.

(Sound_bite)

Andreas Kravik, Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister:

"We export lots of seafood products to China. We also have lots of collaboration with China when it comes to the maritime sector. Close to one third of Norwegian exports to China have a relationship to the maritime sector."

(Voice_over)

Meanwhile, the new cargo plane between Norway and China's Jiangxi Province is continuing to run three flights a week.

The aircraft can carry up to sixty-tons of fresh salmon and is - for now - fully loaded.

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