Indian market 'could be worth £30m a year for Scottish salmon sector'
Trade body forecasts increasing year-on-year growth after tariff is removed
Scottish salmon exports to India could grow to a value of £30 million per year in the next 10 years and deliver up to £131m during that time, new projections by sector trade body Salmon Scotland show.
Producers are gearing up for a new drive into the market after last year’s UK-India trade deal promised to remove the tariffs that have held exports back.
Scottish salmon currently faces a 33% import duty, but that barrier is expected to be removed this year when the agreement comes into force.
This paves the way for exports that could rise to more than £30m a year by the end of the decade under the highest of Salmon Scotland’s growth projections.
The trade body’s analysis suggests India could become one of Scotland’s top overseas markets for salmon by the mid-2030s, as demand for premium seafood rises in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.
The population of Delhi metropolitan area was estimated at 33.8 million in 2024, with the city projected to continue growing to surpass Tokyo as the world's most populous city. Mumbai, India's financial capital, has a population of more than 23 million in its metropolitan area. The city is reported to have the highest number of billionaires of any city in Asia.
Asia and the Gulf
The India opportunity forms part of a wider push to expand Scottish salmon exports in fast-growing markets across Asia and the Gulf, amid progress on a series of key free trade deals.
Salmon Scotland said growth of sales to China shows how quickly demand can rise in Asia once a market opens up. Exports to China were worth £95m in 2025, up 28% on the year before.
Salmon Scotland said India could follow a similar path as its premium food market expands, but that unlocking these opportunities will depend on regulation that supports sustainable growth and investment.
Most fish eaten in India is locally sourced, but demand for premium imported seafood is rising quickly in major cities. Salmon Scotland said Scottish salmon’s global reputation for quality and high production standards is expected to resonate strongly with these consumers.
Starting from a low base
Scottish salmon exports to India have so far been low, reaching around 70 tonnes a year worth roughly £500,000 up to 2022, indicating early demand and supply chains already in place.
Salmon Scotland says India could emerge as a meaningful new export destination even under cautious growth assumptions, with high-growth projections rising beyond 3,500 tonnes a year by the end of the decade.
Strong distribution links and reliable cold-chain logistics will be crucial to turning that opportunity into lasting exports.
Ready to move quickly
“India now represents the next major opportunity,” said Salmon Scotland chief executive Tavish Scott. “We’ve seen in markets like China how quickly demand can build once trade barriers fall. India has the scale and economic momentum to follow a similar path.
“We are ready to move quickly once the deal is in force and position Scotland as a premium supplier in this fast-growing market.”
Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill said: “The UK-India trade deal taking effect later this year presents a major opportunity for Scottish salmon – opening up another key market for exporters while boosting the economy.”
The UK is also advancing trade talks with Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates 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 Covid-19 pandemic, and improved market access could help exporters capitalise on demand across Asia.
