Norway's October Seafood Exports Reach NOK 18.2 Billion, Salmon Monthly Export Value Hits Record High

Data released by the Norwegian Seafood Council on November 4 shows that Norway exported NOK 18.2 billion worth of seafood in October, down NOK 48 million from the same month last year, a near-flat decline. Christian Kramer, Acting CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, said in a press release that October's seafood export performance was mixed: salmon export value hit an all-time high, while wild-caught species such as cod, mackerel and Alaska pollock (狭鳕, Gadus chalcogrammus) saw declines in both export volume and value.

Kramer noted that although export prices for cod, mackerel, trout, saithe, herring and shrimp all rose, the stronger Norwegian krone ultimately left October's seafood export value flat year-on-year. He said that measured in US dollars and euros, the Norwegian krone was clearly stronger in October than in the same month last year, which pushed down export value denominated in Norwegian krone.

So far this year, Norway's seafood exports have totaled NOK 151.3 billion, up NOK 2.2 billion year-on-year, an increase of 1%.

In October, Norway's farmed fish exports were worth NOK 13.8 billion, accounting for 76% of total export value, up from 72% in the same month last year. Kramer said increased salmon export volume combined with lower cod and mackerel exports drove this shift in share. Paul T. Aandahl, a market analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said that strong volume growth, together with higher prices for salmon in overseas markets in local currencies, shows strong growth in current demand for Norwegian salmon.

On the wild-caught side, low quotas for several wild-caught species since 2026 have led to very low export volumes and record export prices for some products. Kramer said high export prices do not tell the whole story; lower quotas also mean some seafood processing companies are getting less raw material at higher cost, posing challenges for companies that need to secure production and further value creation.

Salmon: In October, Norway exported 159,810 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 13 billion, with export value up NOK 734 million year-on-year, an increase of 6%, and export volume up 9%. Poland, the Netherlands and France were the largest markets for salmon in October. This is the highest monthly export value on record for salmon, NOK 264 million above the previous record month of September 2026.

Poland saw the largest increase in export value in October, up NOK 246 million year-on-year, an increase of 12%; export volume to Poland was 32,664 tonnes, up 15% year-on-year. So far this year, export volume to Poland has grown 27% to 225,000 tonnes, while export value has risen 5% to NOK 5.2 billion. Aandahl said that alongside growth in Norwegian salmon exports to Poland, both domestic consumption and re-exports in Poland are growing; household consumption in Poland has risen 19% this year and Polish export volume has grown 10%, with rising purchasing power making Poland one of the fastest-growing salmon consumption markets in recent years.

Trout: In October, Norway exported 6,954 tonnes of trout worth NOK 629 million, with export value down NOK 64 million year-on-year, a decline of 9%, and export volume down 15%. Poland, the United States and Thailand were the largest markets for trout in October. Poland saw the largest increase in export value, up NOK 78 million year-on-year, an increase of 87%; export volume to Poland was 1,935 tonnes, up 74% year-on-year.

The top ten export markets for Norwegian seafood in October were: Poland NOK 2.75 billion (up 13% year-on-year), the United States NOK 1.2 billion (down 11%), China NOK 1.16 billion (up 12%), the Netherlands NOK 1.15 billion (up 5%), France NOK 1.05 billion (flat), Denmark NOK 952 million (down 3%), the United Kingdom NOK 903 million (flat), Spain NOK 890 million (up 4%), Portugal NOK 730 million (down 15%), and Italy NOK 656 million (down 4%). The Norwegian Seafood Council said the trend of growth in Poland and China and continued decline in the United States has continued this year, with the US decline driven by lower export volumes of fresh and frozen salmon fillets.