Favourable biological conditions resulted in increased production of Norwegian salmon in July 2025 compared with the same month last year.
Photo: Norwegian Seafood Council.
After a first half of the year in which the U.S. had led the ranking of the largest importers of Norwegian seafood products, in July, China overtook the United States, although both were surpassed by Poland, a regular transit market for seafood exports from the Nordic country, which are then re-exported from there to their final destination.
"Seafood exports have had a historically strong July in terms of value. This is primarily due to high salmon volumes and impressive value growth to China," said Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), commenting on the July report on Norway's seafood exports.
Last month, Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.9 billion, which was an increase of NOK 1.1 billion, or 8%, compared to July 2024, and so far this year, it has exported seafood worth NOK 99 billion. As an interesting fact, the NSD said this is exactly the same value as in the whole of 2018.
"Despite the fact that world trade is experiencing demanding times and competition in the market is tough, seafood from Norway has a strong global position. This is also true in the middle of summer," NSC CEO Christian Chramer pointed out.
"Impressive value growth to China"
As said, the largest market for Norwegian seafood exports in July 2025 was Poland, which imported products worth NOK 1.7 billion, 23% up year-on-year. China followed, with a value of NOK 1.3 billion, which was 88% more than in the same month last year, and the U.S. ranked third this time, with NOK 1.1 billion, a 17% increase. The Netherlands, with NOK 897 million, representing a decrease of 7%, and Denmark, with NOK 793 million, 21% less than the previous year, completed the top five.
As for the "impressive value growth to China," referred to by Chramer in his comments, the Asian giant recorded an increase in export value of NOK 613 million, which is 88% up year-on-year, and, as mentioned, the highest value growth in July. In total, Norway exported seafood to China for NOK 1.3 billion last month.
Salmon, NOK 763.9 million, and 80% up; Greenland halibut, NOK 149 million, and 88% up; and Redfish, NOK 117.6 million, and 90% up, were the largest exported species to the Asian country in July in terms of value.
As was the case last month, record salmon volumes, lower prices, and new sales channels -Norwegian salmon is now sold on TikTok in China - were the factors driving this growth.
"Salmon is the main driver of export value to China. A combination of record-high available volumes, lower prices and new emerging sales channels in the Chinese market contributed to the positive trend continuing in July. China is now the largest growth market for Norwegian salmon so far this year," explained the Norwegian Seafood Council CEO.
In terms of value, the U.S. was Norway's largest export market in the first five months of the year, but in June and July, thanks to Poland's recovery and the remarkable growth in the value of exports to China, the value of Norwegian seafood exports to these two countries exceeded that of the United States.
However, this does not necessarily mean a bad outcome for the U.S. Year-on-year, seafood exports to the North American country continued to grow in July. Last month, Norway exported NOK 1.1 billion worth of seafood to the U.S. This is an increase in value of 17% compared with July 2024.
"In July, there was an increase in the value of salmon, trout, king crab, and snow crab to the USA, so the Americans continue to buy large quantities of Norwegian seafood," Christian Chramer explained. "However, the growth in value to Poland and China has been even greater. The U.S. is a prioritised market for us, and we continue to monitor developments related to the increased tariffs," he continued.
In terms of volume, the United States was the second largest market for salmon in July after Poland, and was second in terms of value for trout exports too. At the same time, it was also the main destination market for Norwegian king crab exports in terms of value - it saw the greatest growth in value in July for this species -, and snow crab.
In fact, earlier this summer, a new report commissioned by the NSC, identified significant opportunities for Norwegian shellfish in the United States market, with snow crab and king crab particularly in demand. "While Canadian snow crab dominates the market in the U.S. from April to June, Norway has the opportunity to offer snow crab from the first and second quarters," then said Norway's seafood envoy to the U.S., Karine Rød Haraldsson.
In July, Norway exported 136,054 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 10.2 billion, so the value increased by NOK 800 million, or 8%, compared with the same month last year. The volume growth was of 28%, and Poland, the United States, and the Netherlands were the largest destination markets.
"There is a seasonal variation in salmon exports, so a July volume of 136,000 tonnes is remarkably high," said NSC seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl. "It almost equals the record volume we had in September and October last year. The reason for this is favourable biological conditions that have resulted in increased production compared with July 2024."
As previously said, last month, China was the destination country with the highest value growth, with an increase of NOK 339 million, or 80%, compared to July 2024. The export volume to the Asian giant ended at 9,950 tonnes, which is 121% higher than the same month last year.
"The Chinese salmon market is experiencing strong growth. In the first half of the year, the salmon category increased by 39% while growth in the second quarter was over 50%. Through good preference and competitive prices, Norway has increased its market share to 71% in June. This is the highest market share for Norwegian salmon in China in 15 years," said Sigmund Bjørgo, the Norwegian Seafood Council's envoy to China.
However, as mentioned several times in this article, Norwegian salmon largest export destination in July was Poland, a regular processing market which, in addition, had the second largest growth in July with an increase of NOK 291 million.
"Most of the salmon to Poland is processed for export. Strong growth in consumption of fresh salmon fillets in Europe is contributing to increased processing in Poland," Aandahl explained. "The most important export markets for fresh fillets from Poland are Germany, the Czech Republic, and Italy."
Regarding the U.S., the NSC seafood analyst explained: "Value growth to the U.S. slowed down in July. Overall, exports increased by only 3%, while volume increased by 16% Although increased tariffs may have had a negative effect, the fall in prices must mainly be seen in light of the large volume growth from Norway and globally so far this year."
July was not the best month for the other star species of Norwegian seafood exports. Despite this, and a 12% drop in volume, the value of exports rose by 6% - NOK 8 million - compared with the same month last year. In total, Norway exported 2,055 tons of fresh cod with a value of NOK 144 million, with Denmark, the Netherlands, and Poland as the main destinations.
For fresh wild cod, landings continued to fall last month, resulting in lower export volumes, falling by 7% to 1,314 tonnes, while export value increased by 19% to NOK 93 million. As for fresh farmed cod, unlike in the first half of the year, when exports of fresh farmed cod were at an all-time high, in July the export volume fell 20 % to 741 tonnes, while the export value fell 11% to NOK 51 million. Farmed cod accounted for 36% of the export value of fresh cod.
"As usual, the largest markets for fresh cod are the transit markets. From Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland, most of the cod is re-exported to our largest fresh markets such as Spain, France, and Germany," said seafood analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Meanwhile, Norway exported 2,575 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 194 million in July. The value increased by NOK 48 million, or 33%, year-on-year, equivalent to a volume growth of 17%. Once again, the UK was the main destination market. China and Vietnam ranked second and third, respectively.
"Since landings of frozen cod continued to fall in July, stock adjustments are probably the main reason for the growth," Eivind Hestvik Brækkan explained. Last month was the first of this year to see an increase in the volume of frozen cod exports.
For clipfish from cod, the export volume fell 69% to 527 tonnes, while the export value fell 59% to NOK 91 million. "We have to go all the way back to March 1989 to find a lower export volume for cod clipfish in a single month," Brækkan said.
The decline also affected the volume and value of stockfish. In July, Norway exported 98 tons of dry cod worth NOK 20 million. The value fell by NOK 6 million, or 24%, compared with the same month last year, while the volume fell by 50%. Italy, Nigeria, and the U.S. were its main destination markets.
As for other species, the Norwegian Seafood Council highlighted that, in addition to salmon, July also saw growth in trout - almost always in parallel with salmon - king crab, snow crab, and prawn.
With volume growth of 20%, Norway exported 9,409 tonnes of trout worth NOK 697 million in July. The value increased by 11% or NOK 72 million compared with the same month last year. Lithuania, the U.S., and Ukraine were the largest markets.
"Like salmon, trout has enjoyed favourable production conditions this year. This has led to strong volume growth. In terms of product weight, exports have increased by 30% so far this year, while growth in value has been 18%," said NSC seafood analyst Paul T. Aandahl.
King crab also saw a significant increase in value. Norway exported 188 tonnes with a value of NOK 118 million in July, which is an increase of NOK 37 million, or 46%, compared to July 2024. The volume growth was 11%. The U.S., as mentioned, was the largest market for king crab in July, followed by Canada and Hong Kong SAR.
When it comes to snow crab, Norway exported 630 tonnes with a value of NOK 112 million, and a year-on-year value increase of NOK 110 million. Again, the U.S. was the largest market destination, this time followed by Japan and the Netherlands.
Prawn, for its part, had an increase in value despite recording a decrease in volume. Norway exported 3,482 tonnes of prawn worth NOK 183 million in July. This meant that, compared with the same month last year, the value increased by NOK 35 million, or 24%. The volume, however, fell by 12%. In this case, China had the highest export value growth, with an increase of NOK 78 million, or 3198%, year-on-year.
