Trading Partner Portal: Norway
Overview
Trade Overview
Norway is located in Northern Europe and is a part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The majority of the country shares a border with Sweden in the east and its northernmost region is bordered by Finland. With a population of over 5.4 million, covering 323,802 square kilometers, Norway is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe.
Norway has one of the most financially healthy economies in the world, in part due to its status as one of the world’s largest exporters of crude oil and natural gas. It has a GDP of $482.17 billion in 2021, which has been decreasing the past several years. Other major industries, such as shipping, shipbuilding, fishing and fish farming, information technology, pulp and paper products, and light metals processing have prospered as well. Incomes are also more evenly distributed, making every person a consumer, unemployment rates and interest rates are low.
Norway has close ties to the United States, the overall economic and trade relationship is strong, and Norway’s import climate is generally open and receptive to U.S. products and investments. In 2022 the United States exported $4.69 billion, making it the United States’ 47th largest export destination. Top exports included: oil and gas ($929 million), transportation equipment ($710 million), chemicals ($690 million), petroleum and coal products ($536 million), and computer and electrical products ($454 million). Also, in the same year, the United States imported $6.65 billion, and top imports included: petroleum and coal products ($1.027 billion), primary metals ($942 million), chemicals ($832 million), and fish and other marine products ($702 million).
In 2022, California exported $216 million to Norway. Top exports included: computer and electrical products ($65 million), transportation equipment ($26 million), beverages and tobacco products ($18 million), agricultural products ($18 million). Likewise, Norway exported nearly $590 million to California. Top exports from Norway to California included: livestock and livestock products ($206 million), chemicals ($154 million), and fish and other marine products ($92 million).
In 2021 Norway contributed $33.28 billion in direct investment to the U.S., while U.S. direct investment in Norway totaled $30.5 billion the same year. Norwegian FDI supported 7,700 jobs in the US and contributed $30 million to research and development, along with $570 billion in expanded US exports. Top industry sectors of Norwegian FDI were: software and IT services, transportation, industrial equipment, business services, electronic components and communications. Select USA
Norway and California are both west coast economies with a beautiful coastline. There are approximately 400,000 individuals of Norwegian descent living in California. UC Berkley has strong ties with Norway via the Peder Sather Center for Advanced Study. Peder Sather (1810 – 1886) was a prominent Norwegian-born American banker who is best known for his legacy to UCB. His widow donated funding in his memory for two of the school’s most famous landmarks, Sather Gate and Staher Tower, which is more commonly known as The Campanile. The Norwegian Consulate In San Francisco opened in 1906. Earl Warren, former California Governor and Chief Justice of the United States was of also Norwegian descent.
Virtual Visit by HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway to the State of California
Programming and videos: Day 1. / Day 2.
April 27-28, 2021
Useful Links
Useful links
2019 Nordic-U.S. M&A Study
Alston & Bird, April 8, 2020
Minifacts about Norway 2015 (from Statistics Norway)
VisitNorway (the official travel guide to Norway)
News and information from The Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco
Facebook-stream from The Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco
Nordic Innovation House (Nordic start-ups in the Bay Area)
Innovation Norway San Francisco and Silicon Valley (government trade office)
NorTrade (gateway for trade- and sector information, investment- and career opportunities)
WTO Trade Policy Review 2004 -Norway
U.S. Census Bureau Trade in Goods – Norway
Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE)
14/15 Global Work Plan – Visit California
Events
Events
CalChamber Hosts Norwegian Parliament – September 15, 2016
The numerous areas that affect trade and investment between Norway and California were the subject of a lively exchange on September 15, 2016 at a luncheon meeting between the California Chamber of Commerce, Parliament of Norway, Consulate General of Norway, and the Northern California World Trade Center. The lunch was part of a weeklong tour of Northern California by the Norwegian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry.
CalChamber International Forum on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
On May 27, 2015, the California Chamber of Commerce held an International Forum on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Transpacific Partnership with speakers including members of the United States Chamber of Commerce, representatives from five American Chambers of Commerce from abroad, and two ambassadors. Also in attendance was a delegation totaling 25 members of the AmCham community representing Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Turkey.