Norway exported 44,475 tonnes of herring worth NOK 703 million (€60 million) in February, a 40% rise in value compared with 2025, while mackerel exports fell sharply during the same month.
Mackerel exports totalled 8,311 tonnes valued at NOK 423 million (€36 million), down 31% in value and 56% in volume compared with the same month last year.
Strong winter herring fishery boosts exports
The rise in herring exports follows a strong winter fishery.
In January and February, 170,000 tonnes of herring were landed, a 64% increase year-on-year.
“We must go back to 2012 to find similar figures, and this is also reflected in the export statistics,” said Jan Eirik Johnsen, responsible for pelagic species at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Egypt was the largest market for whole frozen herring in February, followed by Denmark and Lithuania.
In Egypt, herring is widely eaten smoked and known as “Ringa”, traditionally linked to the national spring celebration Sham El-Nassim, which this year takes place on 13 April.
Mackerel season ends with lower volumes
The 2025/2026 mackerel season ended in February with total landings of 185,000 tonnes, a 44% drop compared with the previous season.
South Korea, Lithuania and Vietnam were the largest export markets for mackerel during the month.
Johnsen noted that the price of whole frozen mackerel fell from January to February after reaching record levels earlier in the season.
Mixed outlook for pelagic exports
Exports of mackerel fillets also started the year weak.
In January and February, 750 tonnes of fillet were exported, compared with nearly 2,400 tonnes in the same period last year.
However, Johnsen said demand was strong for fillets made from fresh raw material. In contrast, fillets produced later in the season from frozen fish face tougher market conditions.
Overall, Norwegian seafood exports in February reached NOK 13.8 billion (€1.18 billion), down 2% from 2025.