A 25 percent hike in fish exports made agriculture and food products all but the only Swedish export sector that expanded in 2009. However, farmed salmon from Norway, repacked and then re-exported, accounted for most of that increase, otherwise dominated by herring sold in IKEA stores.
According to statistics from the Board of Agriculture, Swedish exports of agriculture and food products amounted to 5 billion euros in 2009, a five percent increase from 2008. With fish products deducted, however, it would have been a € 72 million decrease.
Sweden sold fish products worth € 1.5 billions abroad last year, although € 1 billion was fish, mainly farmed salmon, already imported from Norway, then repacked and sold abroad under Swedish brand names. Some 90 percent of Norway’s exports of agriculture and food products to Sweden were fish.
A considerable portion of the Swedish non-Norwegian fish export is herring sold in IKEA’s more than 250 stores abroad.
Sweden still imported more fish products in 2009 than it exported, however, the total import set at € 2 billions. Its Nordic neighbours were the dominant trade partners in both directions, followed by Germany and the Netherlands.
The growing consumer interest in fish products in general and fatty fish like salmon in particular, may partly be explained by increased health-consciousness, including spreading knowledge of the heart-friendly effects of Omega-3 oils, experts said.