Norway exported seafood worth NOK 16 billion in August. This represents an increase of NOK 1.9 billion, or 14 per cent, compared with the same month last year.
“Despite the Norwegian krone being significantly stronger than in the same month last year, the value of seafood exports in August reached a historic high. This is primarily due to increased salmon volumes at higher prices and price rises for cod, mackerel, herring and saithe,” said Christian Chramer, chief executive officer of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
So far this year, Norway has exported seafood worth 115.7 billion kroner – an increase of 2.6 billion kroner, or 2 per cent, compared with the same period in 2025.
Exports to the United States have slowed sharply in 2026, and last month the USA increased its punitive tariff on Norway to 12.5 per cent. Nevertheless, in August, for the very first time this year, there was a rise in the value of exports to the American market.
“Although Norway has been subject to less favorable tariff conditions than several of our competitor nations, we have seen growth in salmon exports to the United States for two months running. At the same time, the USA is no longer in the top three of our largest seafood markets. This is mainly because other countries experienced greater growth, particularly in salmon,” commented Chramer.
Sales growth in United States is driven mainly by salmon.
“Favorable biological conditions this summer have given us access to large quantities of high quality fish, which is in high demand in the lucrative sushi segment, including in the USA. In addition, there is underlying growth in demand for Norwegian salmon in the global seafood market, which is driving up both prices and export value, explained Chramer.
Positive Development Across All Major Markets
In total, Norway exported seafood worth NOK 1.1 billion to the United States in August, representing a 4 per cent increase compared with the same month in 2025.
Here are the five largest export destinations by value in August (changes from the same month last year in brackets):
• Poland: NOK 2.23 billion (+36%)
• China: NOK 1.4 billion (+34 per cent)
• Netherlands: NOK 1.16 billion (+31 per cent)
• USA: 1.13 billion kroner (+4%)
• United Kingdom: NOK 900 million (+16%)
Poland, as seen in the statistics above, was Norway’s largest export market last month and also recorded the highest growth in value. China ranked No. 2, and the Netherlands overtook the USA in the rankings to become the third-largest market.
“Poland and the Netherlands are traditionally regarded as purely processing markets, but we are now seeing that growth in domestic salmon consumption is strongest in precisely these two countries, as well as in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. This is a trend we have been observing for some time,” said Chramer.
Highest-ever Share of Exports from Aquaculture
In August, aquaculture-produced fish exports fetched 13 billion kroner. This accounted for 81.4 per cent of the total value of seafood exports, which is the highest ever recorded.
“The quota restrictions in recent years have affected the balance of our export portfolio. This is particularly evident in the whitefish category, where farmed cod accounted for 72 per cent of the export value of fresh cod in August. At the same time, there was a decline in volume for several of our wild-caught species, such as saithe, mackerel, herring and king crab,” reported Chramer.
Seafood exports to China continue to rise. Salmon, haddock and blue whiting were the three largest species exported to the PRC in August, and all saw solid growth in both volume and value.
Record-Breaking Monthly Salmon Sales
Norway exported 153,602 tons of salmon worth NOK 12.3 billion in August, as the value increased by NOK 2 billion, or 19 per cent, compared with the same month last year. This is a record-high export value for salmon in a single month, NOK 19 million higher than the previous record month, which was recorded in October 2025.
Poland saw the greatest growth in value in August, with an increase in export value of NOK 487 million, or 32 per cent, compared with the same month last year. Export volumes to that country totaled 28,800 tons, which is 21 per cent higher than in the same month last year.
The Netherlands was the second-largest growth market, with an increase of NOK 293 million, or 40 per cent, compared with August 2025.
“The growth in the largest processed product markets reflects strong demand for processed salmon products in Europe. Although some of this volume may not be consumed until next year, we are seeing category growth for processed salmon products in Europe,” said Paul T. Aandahl, market analyst of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Approximately 78 per cent of salmon exports in August consisted of whole fish. The corresponding figure for the same month last year was 75 per cent.
Trout: Decline in Both Volume and Value
Norwegian producers exported 6,337 tons of trout worth NOK 551 million in August. Value fell by NOK 81 million, or 13 per cent, compared with the same month last year, while volume declined by 28 per cent.
Poland, the USA and Ukraine were the largest markets for trout in August. Poland saw the greatest growth in value, with an increase of NOK 75 million, or 210 per cent. Export volume totaled 1,423 tons, which is 159 per cent higher than the same month last year.
China is Largest Market for Frozen Cod
Norway exported 1,996 tons of frozen cod worth NOK 205 million in August The value increased by NOK 25 million, or 14 per cent, compared with the same month last year, while volume fell by 4 per cent, China, the UK and Vietnam were the largest markets. Vietnam saw the greatest growth in value with an increase of NOK 43 million, as export volume totaled 457 tons.
“Both Vietnam and China are processing and re-exporting increasing quantities of frozen cod to the United States, which has an import ban on cod of Russian origin. This has contributed to increased demand for non-Russian raw materials in both China and Vietnam,” said Norwegian Seafood Council market analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan.
Coldwater Prawns – Stable Volume and Higher Value
Norway exported 2,889 tons of prawns worth NOK 198 million in August, with Iceland, China and Denmark ranking as the largest markets. Overall value increased by NOK 48 million, or 32 per cent, compared with the same month last year, representing a 1 per cent increase in volume.
“Despite lower landings of coldwater prawns in Norway so far this year, export volumes remained stable in August compared with the same month last year,” said market analyst Lars Olai Flydal Rorgemoen.
For frozen peeled prawns, there was strong growth in value in August. Although the volume fell by 8 per cent compared with August last year, the value rose by 24 per cent, to NOK 65 million.
