Scottish salmon exports soar to £6bn over decade
Scottish salmon exports have soared over the past decade, with overseas sales worth more than £6bn, new figures reveal.
Analysis of HMRC data by trade body Salmon Scotland shows the UK’s top food export reached 94 global markets between 2016 and 2025.
Annual export value rose from £445m at the start of the decade to £828m last year, an increase of 86%. This is despite overall production in Scotland going up by less than 2% per year.
Volumes also rose by 51% over the same period, with Scottish salmon shipped to markets across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
France and the United States remained the biggest markets in 2025, worth £337m and £301m respectively, followed by China at £97m.
Together, the top three markets accounted for almost 89% of export value, underlining both the strength of established demand and the opportunity to grow sales in emerging markets.
Salmon Scotland is also hoping for an export boost to India ahead of the UK-India free trade agreement coming into force, which is expected to remove the current 33% tariff on Scottish salmon.
The UK is also advancing trade talks with Gulf states including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while a new agreement with South Korea has secured permanent tariff-free access for UK goods.
Scottish salmon exports to South Korea rose sharply before the pandemic, and improved market access could help exporters capitalise on demand across Asia.
Salmon Scotland stresses that the figures underline the importance of the industry to rural and island communities, supporting more than 3,500 local businesses.
Across the decade, Scottish salmon exports amounted to more than 6.4bn meals, highlighting the scale at which the product is helping to meet growing global demand for nutritious, low-carbon food.
The £6.1bn total was spread across Scotland’s salmon farming regions, with exports worth £1.7bn in the north west Highlands, £1.3bn in Shetland, £1.2bn in Argyll and Bute, £1.1bn in the Western Isles, and £663m in Orkney.
The sector directly employs around 2,500 people in coastal communities, with a further 8,500 jobs supported across feed production, logistics, processing, and equipment supply, generating £1bn a year for the economy.
Call for ‘smarter regulation’
Scottish salmon production has increased by just 1.8% per year over the past decade, prompting calls for smarter regulation to help the sector meet rising demand.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “This analysis shows the extraordinary success of Scottish salmon overseas, with more than £6bn in export sales over the past decade and our fish reaching almost 100 markets around the world.
“This success matters for the rural and island communities that depend on salmon farming for skilled, year-round employment.
“Here at home, nutritious salmon remains the UK’s favourite fish, helping more people enjoy healthier diets.
“But the figures also underline the challenge. Demand continues to grow, yet production has increased only modestly.
“What we need is smarter, more effective regulation, not less regulation, so Scotland can meet rising demand sustainably while maintaining the highest standards.”
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