Norwegian salmon prices have fallen sharply this week, as business winds down early before Friday's holiday in Norway.

For salmon weighing more than six kilos, spot price have slipped by at least NOK 10 per kilo, industry sources report.

"Not unexpectedly prices have come down. There is more volume going out, and prices were simply too high this week," an exporter told IntraFish.

The exporter has struggled for sales, but has bought in at prices around NOK 5 per kilogram lower than last Friday, although price drops were even sharper among the largest sizes.

"It's quiet outside, and expectations of clear price declines," another exporter said.

Sellers have been trying to sell off fish before the May 17 public holiday.

The exporter reported price expectations of between NOK 55 and NNOK 59 per kilo for the most popular sizes.

"Especially the big fish, as there was too much of it. That the price last week was over NOK 70 per kilo is completely incomprehensible," he said.

A processing industry source said it was "quite obvious" prices were going down, reporting that some producers slaughtered salmon due to high sea lice levels, which further contributed to the fall.

One producer reports that he has sold some of the next week's production for between NOK 57 and NOK 60 per kilo for the core sizes 3–6 kilos.

"It's slow, but we have sold a little.

IntraFish received reports on the following prices (FOB producer), which stem from a mix of actual trades and expected prices:

3-4 kg - NOK 55 (€5.64/$6.31)-57/kg (€5.85/$6.54)

4-5 kg - NOK 57 (€5.85/$6.54)- 58/kg (€5.95/$6.65)

5-6 kg - NOK 58 (€5.95/$6.65)- 60/kg (€6.15/$6.88)

6 kg + - Nok 62 (€6.36/$7.11)-65/kg (€6.67/$7.46)

Aside from this, one producer said it's hard to pinpoint the price picture, saying the above prices were likely to be from exporters trying to achieve lower numbers. At 1 p.m. Norway time, the producer reported selling at the following prices.

3-4 kg - NOK 61/kg (€6.26/$7.00)

4-5 kg - NOK 63 (€6.46/$7.23)-65/kg (€6.67/$7.46)

5-6 kg - NOK 66 (€6.77/$7.57)–67/kg (€6.87/$7.69)

Prices

Norwegian salmon prices slide