In 2024, Scottish salmon was exported to 48 countries.
Photo: Salmon Scotland.
New HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue & Customs) figures released yesterday revealed that the value of Scottish salmon exports hit a new record in 2024, and it remains the top UK food export, ahead of Cheddar cheese and other popular British products like lamb and beef.
Specifically, international sales of Scottish farmed salmon reached GBP 844 million (EUR 1.01 billion / USD 1.06 billion). As said, this is an all-time high representing a 45% increase in one year, and a 36.5% increase over the previous record of GBP 618 million (EUR 742.4 million / USD 779.6 million) set in 2019, before the pandemic.
Both the Scotland Office Minister of the British Government, Kirsty McNeill, and the Deputy First Minister of the Scottish Government, Kate Forbes, as well as Salmon Scotland CEO, Tavish Scott, agreed that these record figures are a clear reflection of the success of Scottish farmed salmon abroad.
"Salmon is the jewel in the crown of Scotland's world-class produce and today's figures underline its global reputation for unrivalled quality," said UK's Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill.
"These exceptional figures clearly demonstrate the surging global demand for Scottish salmon, which is rightly recognised as a premium high-quality product," Scotland's Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes aligned.
"Today's record exports demonstrate the increasing global demand for Scottish salmon, which is rightly recognised as the best in the world and increasingly sought after by discerning consumers," Salmon Scotland CEO Tavish Scott added.
Scott continued pointing out that salmon farmers in Scottish rural and coastal communities go out every day to raise healthy fish which end up on plates in dozens of countries. Grown in the Scottish waters off the northwest Highlands, Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland, in 2024, exports were sent to 48 countries.
France remains the main destination market, accounting for 55% of the total value of all Scottish salmon exports, followed by the United States with a 27% share. Last year also saw massive growth of over 60% in Asian markets, particularly China and Taiwan.
Not surprisingly, farmed salmon of Scottish origin is the largest export by volume passing through Heathrow Airport.
Recently, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said that a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% by 2050, with over half – 60% of that boost – going to areas outside of London and the southeast, including increasing trade opportunities for products like Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon.
Salmon Scotland recalled these record figures come after survival rates a on salmon farms in Scotland reached a four-year high of 82.3% in 2024 - with peaks of up to 98%, as occurred in September -, following multi-million dollar investments in technology to improve animal welfare.
This improved survival has allowed more food to be available for export to meet international demand, while Scottish salmon is also the UK's most popular fish, as Tavish Scott recalled.
"Producers have also invested hundreds of millions of pounds to further boost already world-leading welfare standards. And, here at home, nutritious salmon is the UK's most popular fish – helping to improve people’s diets," Salmon Scotland CEO said.
The salmon sector contributes more than GBP 760 million (EUR 913 million / USD 958.6 million) to the UK economy each year. At the same time, it spends GBP 370 million (EUR 444.5 million / USD 466.6 million), supporting 3,600 suppliers across Scotland.
In addition, it directly employs around 2,500 people in coastal communities, while the supply chain adds a further 10,000 jobs. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes acknowledged.
"The farmed salmon sector is very important to our economy, providing well paid, high skilled jobs in Scotland's rural and island communities," she said.
Both the UK and Scottish Governments have welcomed the latest figures for exports of salmon grown in Scotland and have shown their commitment to continue supporting the sector.
"A key part of the UK Government's Brand Scotland initiative is selling the very best of Scotland to the world. Scottish salmon, and our support for the sector, is an important part of that," Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill stated. "It's a vital element of our Plan for Change, to drive economic growth and put more money in people's pockets right across the UK."
The Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Kate Forbes, spoke along the same lines. "The Scottish Government is fully committed to working with industry to aid sector growth in overseas markets, whilst solidifying their premier status in domestic markets. In doing so, we will continue to drive sustainable growth, which will have significant economic benefits," she said.
The CEO of Salmon Scotland - who recently responded to the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs and Islands Committee by exposing its double standards in comparing salmon farming to other forms of animal protein production by focusing on mortality - used this occasion to call for better regulation.
"Scotland's salmon sector is heavily regulated by government – we need better, not less regulation. That is the task for government and if that is delivered that then we can create more jobs and economic growth," Tavish Scott concluded.
