Norway exported 111,062 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 9.6 billion (€892.8 million) in May, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Export value increased by NOK 101 million (€9.4 million), or 1%, compared with the same month last year, while export volumes were unchanged.
Poland, China and Spain were the largest markets for Norwegian salmon during the month.
Poland recorded the strongest growth in value, with exports rising by NOK 299 million (€27.8 million), or 27%, year-on-year. Export volumes to Poland reached 18,337 tonnes, up 29% from May 2025.
“This trend must be seen in the context of strong growth in domestic salmon consumption in Europe. In Germany, consumption has risen by around 12 per cent over the past year,” said seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Germany remains one of Europe’s largest salmon-consuming markets and is traditionally supplied through processors in Poland.
“When the price of other proteins rises more than that of salmon, or when supermarket chains run promotions, this has a significant impact in a country as populous as Germany. The research firm Nielsen reports an increase in salmon sales so far this year compared with last year, and this growth is across all categories, from frozen and smoked to raw and marinated”, said Christine Iversen, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s representative in Germany.
While European demand remained strong, the United States recorded the sharpest decline among major markets.
Export value to the US fell by NOK 630 million (€58.6 million), or 40%, compared with May last year.
“This negative trend is largely due to the introduction of tariffs, uncertain market access and a weaker dollar”, said Aandahl.
