If Chilean sealice levels continue to rise at the current rate, the situation could develop into mass mortalities and upward price pressure on the international salmon market, said Sparebank 1 Markets Analyst Thomas Myrholt.
The country has the highest sealice levels since 2012, said the analyst, when elevated mortalities produced an upward price pressure into 2013.
The statistics contribute to a wider picture of higher prices into 2020 with tight spring supply in Norway.
"While sea production was strong for the most part of 2019, elevated sealice levels in the fall caused lost feeding days and 'terrible' growth in the fourth quarter," said Myrholt.
Strong harvest weights in the first part of 2019 seem "difficult to beat" and poor recent growth reduces potential going into 2020, he said.
While production in January might have picked up due to a warmer Norwegian winter thus far, persistent high sealice levels and treatments will have once again caused lost feeding days.
However, the second half of the year offers more price stability, with the new traffic light system of capacity licencing adding more flexibility, said Myrholt.
