Norwegian seafood exports saw a slight decline in October, but record sales of salmon — particularly to Asia — helped keep the figures strong.
According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, Norway exported seafood worth NOK 18.3 billion in October, a decrease of 1 percent compared to the same month last year. The fall was mainly due to lower volumes of mackerel and herring, while salmon, cod and trout all increased in value.
“Asia has increased its share of Norwegian salmon exports throughout 2025, and October also follows this trend,” says Paul T. Aandahl, Seafood Analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Over the past three months, 20 percent of Norwegian salmon exports have gone to Asia, up from 17 percent in the same period last year. China led the growth with a 92 percent rise in export value, followed by Thailand (+46%) and Taiwan (+61%).
Aandahl attributes the surge to “increased demand and customs duties in the USA, which are helping to shift the flow of goods towards Asia.”
Norway exported 148,729 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 12.6 billion in October — the highest monthly value ever recorded.
Meanwhile, exports to the USA slowed, dropping from 11.5 to 8 percent of total salmon sales in recent months.
Despite a minor overall decline in seafood exports, Asia’s growing appetite for Norwegian salmon underlines the region’s importance for Norway’s seafood industry.
