China has overtaken the United States to become Norway’s second-largest market for salmon, as exports to China continued to surge while shipments of higher-value fillets to the US declined amid tariff uncertainty.
According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, Norwegian salmon exports to China rose 51% by volume and 42% by value in the first half of 2026, following growth of 99% by volume and 59% by value in 2025.
“The Chinese salmon market has strong underlying growth,” said Sigmund Bjørgo, the council’s seafood envoy to China.
He said total Chinese salmon imports from all supplying countries increased by 50% in 2025 and that growth had continued this year. Norway’s share of the Chinese salmon market has also increased to 61%, from 57% last year.
“Whilst China was the world’s eighth-largest salmon market in 2023, only the US is now larger,” Bjørgo said.
By contrast, exports to the United States continued to weaken. The council said the value share of processed salmon products in Norway’s exports fell from 30% to 25% in the first half, largely because of lower shipments to the US.
“The introduction of tariffs and generally uncertain conditions for future trade have reduced exports from Norway,” said seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl.
Export values for fresh salmon fillets to the US fell 38% year-on-year, while frozen fillet exports declined 32%. Although the US remains Norway’s largest market for salmon fillets, increased sales to other markets have not been sufficient to offset the decline, Aandahl said.
