Norway's herring export prices hit record high in October; tighter mackerel quota halves export volumes to Asia

Data released by the Norwegian Seafood Council shows that in October 2026, Norway's herring and mackerel exports followed sharply divergent trends: herring export prices set all-time records, while mackerel export volumes shrank sharply under a tighter quota and unit prices climbed to historic highs.

In October, Norway exported a total of 16,197 tonnes of herring, worth NOK 445 million (about USD 40.5 million). Export value rose by NOK 64 million (about USD 5.82 million) from the same month last year, an increase of 17%, while export volume fell 4%. Poland, Germany and Ukraine were the top three export markets for Norwegian herring in October.

On prices, export prices for frozen herring fillets and whole frozen herring reached NOK 27 per kilogram (about USD 2.46) and NOK 22 per kilogram (about USD 2.00) respectively in October, both all-time highs and NOK 1 (about USD 0.09) above the previous records set in August and September this year.

By market, Poland remained the largest destination for Norwegian herring in October, importing 4,494 tonnes worth NOK 122 million (about USD 11.1 million), but export value fell by NOK 21 million (about USD 1.91 million) year on year, down 15%. Germany was the fastest-growing market by export value in October, with export value up NOK 33 million (about USD 3 million), a year-on-year surge of 107%; export volume to Germany reached 2,268 tonnes, up 69% year on year.

By product mix, frozen Norwegian spring-spawning herring (NVG) fillets were the main export item in October. Exports of skinless frozen NVG herring fillets totaled 5,373 tonnes, worth NOK 146 million (about USD 13.29 million), with export value up 37% and export volume up 29%. Over the same period, export value of whole frozen NVG herring rose by NOK 24 million (about USD 2.18 million), an increase of 72%, to NOK 58 million (about USD 5.28 million), with the actual price 50% higher than in October last year.

On a year-to-date cumulative basis, Norway has exported 183,426 tonnes of herring, worth NOK 3.7 billion (about USD 336.7 million). Export revenue rose by NOK 541 million (about USD 49.23 million) from the same period last year, up 17%, while export volume expanded 19%. The top three cumulative destinations were Poland, Lithuania and Denmark: export value to Poland was NOK 877 million (about USD 79.81 million), up NOK 160 million (about USD 14.56 million), an increase of 22%; export value to Denmark rose by NOK 134 million (about USD 12.19 million), up 58%; and export value to Lithuania increased by NOK 121 million (about USD 11.01 million), up 47%. Germany was the market with the largest decline so far this year, with export value down NOK 127 million (about USD 11.56 million), a drop of 37%.

As for mackerel, Norway exported 13,787 tonnes in October, worth NOK 758 million (about USD 68.98 million). Export revenue fell by NOK 631 million (about USD 57.42 million) from the same period last year, down 45%, while export volume fell 50%. South Korea, Japan and Vietnam were the top three export markets in October.

Paul T. Aandahl, a market analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said the sharp drop in mackerel export volume stems directly from cuts in the total allowable catch and reduced resources available for export, a constraint that has affected all core Asian consumer markets; at the same time, unit prices are at historic highs, with the average mackerel export price 10% higher than in October last year. The price of whole frozen mackerel hit a record peak of NOK 54 per kilogram (about USD 4.91), up NOK 2 (about USD 0.18) from the previous monthly high set in September 2026.

Cumulatively, Norway has exported 81,368 tonnes of mackerel so far this year, with a total export value of NOK 4.3 billion (about USD 391.3 million). Trade revenue plunged by NOK 2.6 billion (about USD 236.6 million), down 38% year on year, while export volume contracted 54%. The top three cumulative destinations were South Korea, Japan and Vietnam: export value to South Korea was NOK 783 million (about USD 71.25 million), down NOK 170 million (about USD 15.47 million), a decrease of 18%; Vietnam saw the largest decline, down NOK 569 million (about USD 51.78 million), a drop of 59%; and export value to China plummeted by NOK 419 million (about USD 38.13 million), a fall of 72%. The fastest-growing markets over the same period were Romania, the United States and Israel, with export value to the United States rising by NOK 32 million (about USD 2.91 million), up 10%, to a cumulative NOK 364 million (about USD 33.12 million).