India seen as ‘huge untapped market’ for Scottish salmon.
Scottish salmon producers are preparing to enter the Indian market following a UK-India free trade agreement that will eliminate current tariffs on salmon imports.
The trade deal, due to take effect next year, will remove the 33 percent tariff currently applied to Scottish salmon exports to India, which has until now limited trade volumes. Industry representatives see the move as an opportunity to develop a significant new export market, with expectations of sales worth tens of millions of pounds annually.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram K. Doraiswami, visited Mowi’s salmon processing facility in Rosyth this week to discuss trade opportunities and assess production capacity. Edinburgh-based Vice Consul Amit Chaudhary also joined the visit.
“The Scottish salmon industry, a global leader exporting over £800 million in 2024, exemplifies the quality and innovation driving this partnership,” Doraiswami said. “With the FTA reducing trade barriers, India’s restauranteurs and consumers will soon be able to affordably access premium Scottish salmon.”
India is the world’s third-largest fish market, with domestic fish consumption reaching nearly 12 million tonnes in 2021 — a 120 percent increase since 2005. While most fish sold in India is locally sourced, major cities including Delhi and Mumbai have growing demand for imported high-end seafood.
Mowi’s chief operating officer for Scotland, Ireland, the Faroes and Canada East, Ben Hadfield, said the tariff removal offers “huge potential” to develop the Indian market, following previous export growth in China and Taiwan.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, described India as “a huge untapped market,” and said the industry is working with UK and Indian officials to secure access and promote growth.
UK Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said the trade deal supports the UK Government’s broader strategy to increase Scottish exports: “Slashing tariffs, increasing exports, growing our economy, securing jobs and putting more money in the pockets of hard-working Scots.”
Scottish salmon exports reached a record £840 million in 2024, maintaining its status as the UK’s top food export. India is not currently listed among the nearly 50 countries receiving significant volumes of Scottish salmon.