Norway salmon hits new export record in 2025 despite tariffs and low prices
Despite low prices during most of last year, Norway exported salmon worth a record £9-billion plus in 2025.
Figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council today show that the country’s salmon exports were worth NOK 124.7 billion (£9.1bn).
In total, Norway exported 2.8 million tons of seafood of all types, worth 181.5 billion kroner (£13.4bn ), last year.
This is a record in value, and corresponds to 38 million meals every single day, year-round, says Seafood Norway.
Seafood Council CEO Christian Chramer said: “2025 was a demanding seafood year, with lower quotas and catches at record prices for all our most important wild-caught species. The year was also characterised by strong volume growth for salmon. Despite a significantly lower salmon price, it was a record year in value for Norwegian seafood exports.”
Fisheries Minister Marianne Sivertsen added: “The record value is impressive in a year marked by increased turmoil in world trade. It says a lot about the seafood industry’s strong competitiveness internationally.
“The government is committed to strengthening market access for the seafood industry and will continue to prioritise this work in the New Year.”
Despite problems over tariffs, the United States, along with Poland and China were Norway’s largest markets, with salmon sales dominating in all three countries.
CEO Chramer continued: “Last year, Norway sold seafood to more than 150 countries, so we are completely dependent on good market access and efficient flow of goods.
“The new US tariffs created a lot of noise and unrest for Norwegian seafood exports. From being a market with record growth and an almost insatiable appetite for salmon and crab from Norway in the first half of 2025, US trade was characterised by tariffs, a weakened dollar and weaker development throughout the year.”
Salmon exports showed strong volume growth and an increase of 13% on 2024 to 1.415 million tons, and was worth NOK 124.7 billion (£9.1bn), a rise of 2%, or NOK 2.2 billion, on the previous year.
France, the US and Poland were the largest markets for Norwegian salmon. But China had the largest value growth last year, with an increase in export value of NOK 3 billion, or 59%.
Seafood Council analyst Paul T. Aandahl said: “Favourable production conditions, including high sea temperatures, led to strong (salmon) growth in production in 2025.
“In addition to the total volume increasing, the average size of the fish also increased. This led to a shift in exports towards markets that want large fish.”
The Chinese growth is due to a combination of a sharp increase in salmon consumption, which led to Norway gaining market share.
New sales channels and improved distribution in smaller Chinese cities have also contributed positively, says the Seafood Norway’s envoy to China, Sigmund Bjørgo.
Through November last year, China imported a “whopping” 48% more salmon than the year before, from all salmon-producing countries, he added.
Norway’s market share increased from 41% to 57% during this period compared to the previous year.
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