China drives salmon export growth as US share declines.
Norway’s seafood exports reached NOK 17.9 billion ($1.74 billion) in September, up NOK 1.4 billion or 8 per cent compared with the same month last year, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council. Salmon once again dominated the basket, with strong growth to China offsetting weaker results in the United States.
Norway exported 137,600 tonnes of salmon in September with a value of NOK 11.6 billion ($1.13 billion). While volumes declined by 1 per cent, higher prices pushed export value up 2 per cent year-on-year.
China takes the lead
China recorded the highest growth for salmon in September, with volumes increasing 68 per cent to 8,147 tonnes. Export value rose 78 per cent, or NOK 352 million ($34.1 million), compared with the same month in 2024.
Norway’s share of the Chinese salmon market has now increased from 43 per cent to 65 per cent, largely at the expense of Chilean exporters. “The Chilean share in particular has declined,” said seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The Chinese growth reflects Norway’s ability to capture a larger share of a rapidly expanding market for salmon and prawns, even as world trade faces rising tariffs and economic uncertainty.
US market weakens
By contrast, Norwegian salmon’s position in the United States has weakened. In the first half of 2025, the US accounted for 10.6 per cent of salmon export value; in the third quarter the figure fell to 7.6 per cent.
The value of salmon exports to the US declined 5 per cent compared with Q3 2024, with fresh whole salmon hit hardest. “Stronger competition, increased tariffs and a weaker dollar have affected exports of fresh whole salmon to the US, which have fallen sharply in recent months,” said Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
September was the first full month with a 15 per cent tariff on Norwegian seafood entering the US market. While overall seafood exports to the US still grew 9 per cent in value to NOK 1.3 billion ($124 million), the increase was driven by king crab, trout and mackerel rather than salmon.
European markets
Poland, the USA and France remained the largest salmon markets in September, with Sweden emerging as the second-largest growth market. Salmon exports to Sweden rose 23 per cent to NOK 317 million ($30.7 million), led by frozen fillets.
“This is primarily due to an adjustment of inventories in the run-up to winter. In addition, both a fall in prices and growth in domestic consumption of fresh salmon and smoked salmon made a positive contribution. Seventy per cent of Swedes say that price is the biggest barrier to eating more seafood,” said Charlotte Rapp, Manager Sweden at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Quarterly performance
Across the third quarter, Norway exported 416,855 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 32 billion ($3.08 billion), an increase of NOK 497 million or 2 per cent year-on-year. Volumes rose 13 per cent in the period, highlighting a divergence between growing supply and pressure on prices.
Poland, the US and the Netherlands were the three largest markets in Q3, while China contributed the highest value growth with exports up NOK 1.3 billion ($125 million), or 54 per cent.
So far in 2025, Norway’s seafood exports have totalled NOK 130.8 billion ($12.6 billion), up NOK 6.3 billion or 5 per cent from the same period in 2024.
