According to the latest data from the Norwegian Seafood Council, Norway exported a total of 2,104,730 tonnes of seafood from January to September 2025, with an export value of NOK 130.82 billion, marking a year-on-year growth of NOK 6.25 billion or 5% compared to the same period in 2024. Among them, Norwegian salmon exports reached 1,025,652 tonnes, with an export value of NOK 89.64 billion, accounting for 69% of the country's total seafood export value.
"The summer of 2025 has been marked by considerable turmoil in the markets. Changes in customs duties on exports to the US are affecting Norwegian seafood exports and posing challenges for the global seafood trade. In addition, increased competition for both raw materials and customers has made it particularly demanding for many players in the seafood industry. Seafood exports have had a strong month in terms of value and a solid third quarter. This is primarily due to higher prices for mackerel, cod, saithe and king crab."
Christian Chramer
CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council
Norwegian Seafood Exports to China
Continue to Show Strong Growth Momentum
China rose from Norway's sixth-largest seafood market in 2024 to the third in 2025, with an export value of NOK 9.37 billion from January to September — a 42% year-on-year increase, the fastest among the top ten markets.
Norwegian Salmon
From January to September 2025, Norway exported 69,376 tonnes of salmon to China, with an export value of NOK 6.19 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 112.1% in volume and 66.5% in value. Norwegian salmon is the top seafood export from Norway to China. Fresh whole salmon's share of the Chinese market has increased from 43 percent last year to 65 per cent this year. China has become Norway's fifth-largest global export market for salmon, and it is also the fastest-growing market among the top ten.
Strong demand from Chinese consumers is the main driver behind the robust growth in both the export volume and value of Norwegian salmon. In China, sales channels for salmon have expanded beyond traditional supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, and restaurants to include social and live-commerce platforms such as REDnote and Douyin. Even processing plants are now promoting products through live streaming.
China's urban population is also growing rapidly — according to Oxford Economics, the country will add 145 million middle-class consumers between 2020 and 2030. As a result, salmon consumption has expanded from first-tier and provincial capital cities to lower-tier markets. Whether in Japanese restaurants, retail stores, online marketplaces, or emerging e-commerce platforms, Norwegian salmon is finding its way onto the tables of an ever-growing number of Chinese consumers.
Norwegian Whitefish
From January to September 2025, Norway's main whitefish exports to China performed as follows:
• Greenland halibut: Export volume to China reached 6,578 tonnes, down 18% year-on-year, while export value was NOK 546 million, up 7% year-on-year.
• Arctic cod: Arctic cod exports to China totaled 7,227 tonnes, valued at NOK 481 million. Both U.S. tariff increases, and reduced catch quotas led to a 38% drop in volume and a 25% drop in value year-on-year, making China the fifth-largest export market for this species.
• Haddock: Export volume reached 7,764 tonnes, valued at NOK 429 million. Although export volume declined by 36% compared with the same period last year, export value still increased by 12%.
• Redfish: Export volume reached 14,290 tonnes, with an export value of NOK 445 million, up 52% and 71% year-on-year, respectively.
• Saithe: Exports to the Chinese market reached 9,623 tonnes in volume and NOK 282 million in value, representing year-on-year growth of 13% and 62%, respectively.
In total, Norway exported 46,515 tonnes of whitefish to China, worth NOK 2.203 billion — a 10% decrease in volume but a 9% increase in value compared to the same period last year.
Norwegian Mackerel
From January to September 2025, Norway exported 12,698 tonnes of mackerel to China, with an export value of NOK 463 million. Although the export volume decreased by 26.2% year-on-year, the export value increased by 7.6% compared with the same period last year due to price effects.
The quota cuts of Norwegian Mackerel lead to a significant decline in export volumes. With supply decreasing, both export value and retail prices have risen. Year to date, the price of Norwegian mackerel increased from 25.01 NOK/kg in 2024 to 36.47 NOK/kg, a rise of 46%.
In addition to the reduced catch quotas, another key reason for the decline in Norway's mackerel exports to China is that Vietnam enjoys lower tariffs on exports to Japan compared with China, leading to an increase in Vietnam's imports of Norwegian mackerel.
Norwegian Coldwater Prawns
China is now the largest export market for Norwegian Coldwater Prawns. From January to September 2025, Norway exported 7,456 tonnes of Coldwater Prawns to China, with an export value of NOK 390 million. Compared with the same period last year, both export volume and value increased by over 500%, with export value to China soaring 560%, leading the growth of global markets.
"The strong growth is driven by high demand for frozen cooked shell prawns and frozen raw prawns for the sashimi segment. In addition, distribution channels have improved. Sales are now increasing both in traditional grocery stores and in corresponding online sales channels. Access to products is the biggest limitation to further growth."
Sigmund Bjørgo
China Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council
Export data by species from Norway to China from January to September 2025：
