China became Norway’s third-largest seafood export market by value in October, as Norwegian shipments to the country continued to grow, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Norway exported seafood worth NOK 1.16 billion (US$127 million) to China during the month, representing a 12 per cent increase compared with October 2025.
China also became Norway’s largest market for frozen cod, with exports reaching 1,026 tonnes. This represented a 186 per cent increase in volume compared with the same month last year, while the value of frozen cod exports rose by 182 per cent.
The growth comes as Norwegian seafood shipments to the United States declined, partly due to lower volumes of fresh and frozen salmon fillets.
Salmon reaches export value record
Norway’s total seafood exports reached US$1.97 billion in October, remaining virtually unchanged from the same month last year.
Despite the overall stable figure, salmon exports reached a monthly record in terms of value. Meanwhile, both volumes and values declined for several wild-caught species, including cod, mackerel and haddock.
According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, the stronger Norwegian krone against the US dollar and euro also weighed on export earnings measured in local currency.
The figures highlight China’s growing importance as a destination for Norwegian seafood, particularly frozen cod, at a time when shipments to some other major markets are facing weaker demand.
Source: Xinhua, reporting Norwegian Seafood Council figures
