Norway has reported “record” seafood export sales last year, driven by increased salmon volumes and higher prices for wild-caught species.
According to data from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), the country exported 2.8 million tonnes of seafood worth Nkr181.5bn ($17.9bn), up 4% on 2024.
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Salmon dominated exports, with 1,414,909 tonnes of the fish shipped. The exports were worth Nkr124.7bn, a 2% increase in value from 2024.
Poland, the US and China were Norway’s largest markets.
The US accounted for 9% of total exports, its highest share since 1989.
However, the trade picture was impacted by tariff hikes introduced in April and August, when US duties on Norwegian seafood rose to 15% or more on all products.
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By GlobalDataNotably, while the value of exports to the US surged by 55% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2024, it dipped by 1% in the fourth quarter.
Christian Chramer, the CEO of the NSC, said: “The USA’s new tariffs created a lot of noise and turmoil 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 throughout the year was characterised by tariffs, a weaker dollar and weaker development.”
Nonetheless, Chramer remains optimistic. “The USA is by far the world’s largest market for salmon consumption and has been one of our largest growth markets over time, also in 2025. It is very important for Norwegian seafood, and the potential for further growth remains high.”
Europe remained Norway’s biggest regional market.
Poland was the largest single market in Europe for the 12th year running, though Europe’s share of export sales in value terms fell from 67% to 63%.
China delivered the “highest” value growth last year, the NSC report showed.
In value terms, exports rose 59% to Nkr12.3bn, lifting China from sixth place in 2024 to third in 2025.
Salmon exports to China were worth Nkr8.1bn, with volumes at 90,906 tonnes, up 99% year-on-year.
Chramer said: “Norway has never exported more seafood to China, measured in value, than last year. Growth was particularly strong for salmon, prawns, redfish and Greenland halibut.
“Last year, the volume of salmon to China was twice as high as the year before. This is due to strong growth in demand, falling prices and the fact that the Chinese no longer just buy large salmon over six kilos, but also smaller sizes.”
Meanwhile, the NSC’s data showed last year was a “solid” one for trout farmers. Norway exported 86,903 tonnes of trout worth Nkr7.4bn in 2025, with volumes up 16% and value up 10%.
Fresh cod exports reached 36,704 tonnes, down 9% in volume, but worth Nkr2.8bn, an 11% increase.
Fresh farmed cod exports totalled 15,493 tonnes, up 30%, with value at Nkr1.1bn, up 50%. This constituted 38% of all fresh cod exports.
Frozen cod exports fell 22% in volume to 37,462 tonnes, but value rose 5% to Nkr3.2bn.
Vietnam stood out with a 38% increase in value.
Eivind Hestvik Brækkan, seafood analyst at the NSC, said: “The main reason for Vietnam’s strong performance in 2025 is the US tariffs against China. Periods of very high tariffs on imports from China contributed to Vietnam becoming a more competitive processing market for the Americans.”
Last year also saw “record high” export value for snow crab, according to the report.
Norway exported 7,610 tonnes of snow crab in 2025, up 19% in volume. Export value was Nkr1.6bn, marking a 127% increase.
Prawn exports totalled 31,842 tonnes worth Nkr1.8bn. Volume was down 7%, but value increased by 12%.
