Norway's salmon exports grew by 10% year-on-year in February

The volume of farmed salmon exported from Norway in February increased by 10% to 97,463 tonns compared to the same month last year, although the NOK value was up just 5% to NOK 9.4 billion, partly due to the country’s currency strengthening, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) said today.

Poland, China and France were the largest markets for salmon last month.

Exports of Norwegian salmon to China had the largest value growth in February, with an increase in export value of NOK 570m, or 107%, compared to the same month last year. Volume to China was 11.512 tonnes, up by 126% compared to February 2025.

Chinese New Year

“The Chinese New Year celebrations follow the lunar calendar and this year fell in mid-February. Significant volumes of salmon were shipped to China ahead of the holiday,” said Sigmund Bjørgo, the NSC envoy to China.

“The distribution of salmon has improved in China over the past year, which has increased availability. Norwegian salmon can now be purchased in more stores, on social media and in neighbourhood shops and can be delivered to customers’ homes within half an hour. In addition, gift packs of salmon were a major driver of the huge growth in Chinese salmon consumption during this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.”

Exports of salmon to the United States fell the most. Compared to the same month last year, the decrease was NOK 339m, or 34%.

“It is the export of fresh fillet to the US that has experienced the greatest decline. This must be seen in light of tariffs, increased uncertainty about future trade conditions, increased competition from other producing nations and a weakened US dollar,” says NSC seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl.

Trout

Norway exported 4,557 tonnes of trout worth NOK 446m in February.

The value fell by NOK 117m, or 21%, compared with the same month last year, and volume fell by 23%.

The US, Ukraine, and Thailand were the largest markets for trout in February.

The US saw the greatest growth in value, up by NOK 11m, or 14%, compared with the same month last year. The export volume to the US ended at 729 tonnes, which is 17% higher than the same month last year.

Farmed cod

For fresh farmed cod, export volumes fell by 3% to 1,454 tonnes, while export value increased by 12% to NOK 112m.

Farmed cod accounted for 29% of the export value of fresh cod.