Nordic Aqua moves to capture Chinese high end salmon market

Increased weights at harvest will help to secure a leading position in the Chinese high end market, the company said.

Nordic Aqua added that demand for Atlantic salmon in China went up substantially in the first quarter of 2025, with exports of Norwegian salmon increasing by 78%.

The statement added: “Norway, serving as the price setter in the Chinese market for large Atlantic salmon, is the market leader in China, and by the end of February Norway has close to half of the market with a 44% share in the fresh Atlantic salmon market, versus the combined market share of Chile and Tasmania of 41%.

“Since resuming commercial harvesting in week 8, Nordic Aqua has, in the first six weeks of active sales, attained prices approximately 20% higher than the global Atlantic salmon price achieved by Norwegian producers during the same period.”

Andreas Thorud, general manager of Nordic Aqua’s operations at the Ningbo plant, in Gaotang, said: “The robust pricing – amounting to a premium of nearly 18.00 NOK to export prices for Norwegian salmon during the period – has been supported by Nordic Aqua’s harvest of fish with an average size of 6.2 kg (HOG – head on, gutted), equivalent to 7.5 kg live weight.

“We anticipate that our market position will further strengthen throughout 2025 and 2026, as we establish our reputation as a unique localised Norwegian supplier of large, super-fresh, high quality Atlantic salmon.”

Nordic Aqua Partners (NOAP) said that to meet demand in the attractive high-end market in China, the board has decided to adjust production from a target weight of 5.3 kg (LW) to 7.0 kg (LW).

It said: “This shift to the production of large salmon will allow NOAP, to target the top segment of Chinese salmon.”

Nordic Aqua CEO Ragnar Joensen said: “The facility in Gaotang, near Shanghai, constructed by AKVA Group, has consistently demonstrated excellent operational performance including the ability to produce fish of 7.0 kg (LW) at commercial scale.”

“The transition will require the company to hold back some fish in 2025 to increase the overall biomass size.”

As a result, Nordic Aqua expects to harvest 3,000 tonnes (HOG) in 2025. However, for the 12-month period ending March 2026, the total harvest is expected to be approximately 4,200 tonnes.

The harvest volume for the full year of 2026 is estimated at 6,400 tonnes. Further, run-rate harvest volumes, when Stage 2 is fully operational, are expected at 8,400 tonnes.