Each Portuguese eats on average about 15 kilograms (kg) of cod per year, especially during the Christmas season, and this figure remains stable, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
The figure is “stable at about 15 kg per capita,” said the director of the Portuguese NSC, Trond Rismo, in response to Lusa.
Although the figures for the current year are not yet final, the NSS emphasized that this number will not decrease.
The Christmas season alone accounts for 30% of total cod consumption.
Last year, the Portuguese ate about eight tons of cod for Christmas.
Exports of salted and dried cod (whole) from Norway to Portugal reached 17,915 tonnes this year, down 15% from 2022, but the price rose 16%.
In turn, salted cod exports totaled 17,836 tonnes, down 4%, with prices up 24%, while frozen cod exports fell 7% to 2,877 tonnes, with prices also up 24%.
Exports of fresh/chilled cod from Norway to Portugal amounted to 922 tons, a decrease of 63%, but the price increased by 30%.
“As for cod, this year started with high prices, and then with VAT. [Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado] zero, consumption improved in April. After the summer, prices have fallen to last year’s levels and consumption looks positive,” Trond Rismo said.
However, the director of the Portuguese NSC said that the Portuguese have a preference for smaller fish, which could be due to both price and supply, given that more fish of smaller caliber are exported.
Trond Rismo said it was difficult to predict how consumption would develop next year, but noted that the removal of zero VAT would “definitely” affect the price to the consumer and therefore consumption.
“In Norway there is a quota [de pesca] next year will decrease by 20%, which also means that there will be less fish in the markets. This may also affect the price, but the Portuguese market is so important that I believe the partnership between Norway and Portugal in the cod trade will continue to be strong,” he concluded.
NSC is a public company owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.