Industry – July 9, 2026
Report: these four countries could reshape Norwegian seafood exports
Future growth in demand for Norwegian seafood is expected to come increasingly from emerging markets across South and Southeast Asia, according to a new market report from the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The report, High-Value Seafood Opportunities in Asia, identifies India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines as markets with significant long-term growth potential, driven by rising incomes and expanding middle-class populations.
The council uses China as a benchmark, estimating that several Asian markets are between 10 and 17 years behind China's economic development and seafood consumption trends.
"We expect demand for Norwegian seafood to grow in line with continued economic growth in these markets," seafood analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan said.
The report groups Asian markets into three categories: mature markets including Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan; growing markets including China, Malaysia and Thailand; and emerging markets comprising India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
According to the report, while established markets will continue to account for the largest seafood volumes, the fastest growth is expected to come from emerging economies, making market timing and country-specific strategies increasingly important for Norwegian exporters.
