Norway’s seafood industry set a new value record in July 2026 thanks in part to strong salmon demand and better pricing.
According to data shared by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Norway exported NOK 15.6 billion (USD 1.64 billion, EUR 1.42 billion) worth of seafood during July 2026, an increase of NOK 1.8 billion (USD 188.85 million, EUR 163.48 million), or 13 percent, compared to the same period of last year. That total is the best July ever in terms of value, and comes after the industry posted a decline in H1 2026.
“July was a strong month for Norwegian seafood exports. Salmon drove both increased export volumes and higher prices. Rising prices for cod, mackerel, and trout also made a positive contribution,” NSC CEO Christian Chramer said in a release. “A stronger Norwegian krone has put a damper on value growth, but the strong growth in salmon sales overshadows this effect and ensures that the total export value is rising.”
NSC said three major markets kept strong demand, with both Poland and China seeing increases while the U.S. – which had declining demand in the first half of 2026 – dropped just 4 percent, compared to the 28 percent drop it had in the first half of the year.
Chramer said that meant the U.S. conserved its spot as the third-largest destination for Norwegian seafood exports by value.
“Fresh and frozen salmon fillets, which have been our main products for the US market, continued to decline, whilst fresh whole salmon had a strong month, with export volumes rising from 810 to 2,350 [metric tons],” Charmer said.
However, NSC Seafood Analyst Paul Aandahl said the tariffs are still affecting salmon export volumes.
“Although exports to the U.S. rose by 2 percent in value, the other major salmon markets are growing much more rapidly,” he said. “Last July, the U.S. was Norway’s second-largest salmon market. In July this year, the market has fallen to fifth place. This should be seen in the context of the tariffs imposed on imports of Norwegian seafood.”
Seafood exports from Norway to Poland increased in value by NOK 343 million (USD 35.98 million, EUR 31.15 million), or 20 percent, on the back of a 13 percent increase in export volume. Seafood exports to China also increased heavily, rising 21 percent to reach NOK 1.6 billion (USD 167.86 million, EUR 145.31 million). NSC said that of those exports, salmon accounted for 65 percent of the value, and so far this year China has purchased 41 percent more salmon by volume, resulting in a 46 percent increase in its value.
“China has consolidated its position as Norway’s second-largest salmon market,” Chramer said. “Capacity in the Chinese salmon sashimi processing industry continues to increase, enabling further growth in domestic consumption of salmon. In the first half of the year, Norway’s market share stood at 61 percent, up from 57 percent for the same period last year.”
July was the best month ever for salmon exports to China, reaching 12,464 metric tons (MT) worth NOK 1 billion (USD 104.91 million, EUR 90.82 million).
“Never before has Norway exported such a volume to China in a single month,” Aandahl said. “Export prices to China rose by 8 percent in July compared with the same month last year. This made China the fastest-growing market for Norwegian salmon in July.”
Prices for Norwegian salmon slid in early July according to the SeafoodSource Pricing Portal, but began to increase slightly by mid-month and continued to tick up by the month’s end.
Overall, Norway's salmon exports amounted to 147,891 MT in July 2026, an increase of 10 percent over the same period of 2025. Those exports were valued at NOK 11.6 billion (USD 1.22 billion, EUR 1.05 billion), an increase of NOK 1.6 billion (USD 167.8 million, EUR 145.3 million), or 16 percent, compared to 2025.
"Favorable production conditions and an increase in the average size of the salmon have led to record-high export volumes of salmon this summer," Aandahl said.
Other species also saw strong demand. Fresh cod exports increased in value to NOK 191 million (USD 20 million, EUR 17.3 million), an increase of 34 percent over the same period last year. Volume also increased to 2,189 MT, up 7 percent.
Of that volume, the vast majority was farmed cod. Fresh wild cod export volume fell 47 percent to 674 MT, while farmed cod exports increased by 96 percent to 1,514 MT. By value, farmed cod exports rose 147 percent to NOK 132 million (USD 13.8 million, EUR 12 million), making up 69 percent of the total export value of fresh cod for the month.
"As expected, farmed cod now dominates the volume of fresh cod outside the spawning season," NSC Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan said. "Exports in July mark the first month ever in which over two-thirds of the export value of fresh cod comes from farmed cod, and the second month in a row with a record-high proportion of farmed cod in a single month."
Frozen cod also saw a strong month, with Norway exporting 2,516 MT of frozen cod, a 1 percent increase in volume. By value, Norway's exports were worth NOK 272 million (USD 28.5 million, EUR 24.7 million) in July 2026, an increase of 41 percent compared to July 2025.
Another major cod product that saw gains is clipfish. Norway exported 3,082 MT of clipfish in the month, worth NOK 380 million (USD 39.8 million, EUR 34.5 million), a decrease in volume of 5 percent but an increase in value of 48 percent.
"After several months of low exports of dried cod, we are seeing a clear recovery in July," Brækkan said. "In Portugal in particular – our most important market for dried cod – both volume and value have risen sharply compared with the same month last year."
Herring also saw large increases in both volume and value. Norway exported 11,016 MT of herring worth NOK 234 million (USD 24.5 million, EUR 21.2 million) in July, an increase of 16 percent and 28 percent respectively.
"The increase in value for herring in July is due to both higher export volumes and record-high prices," NSC Head of Pelagic Species Johan Kvalheim said. "A tight global market for pelagic fish and record-high prices for frozen whole herring contributed to a significant increase in export value in July. At the same time, increased availability of raw material following a strong herring catch earlier this year contributed to higher export volumes."
Mackerel also benefited from the tight market for pelagic species, with exports reaching 6,976 MT worth NOK 339 million (USD 35.5 million, EUR 30.7 million), an increase of 12 percent and 69 percent respectively.
"July is normally a quiet month for Norwegian mackerel exports, and exports largely consist of the remaining volumes from the previous season," Kvalheim said. "The strong export values primarily reflect record-high prices resulting from a tight raw material market following low catch volumes in both 2025 and 2026."
Exports of prawns also saw gains in value despite a drop in volume. Norway exported 2,439 MT of prawns worth NOK 190 million (USD 19.9 million, EUR 17.2 million), a volume decrease of 34 percent but a value increase of 1 percent. NSC Head of Shellfish Josefine Voraa attributed that to a tighter supply and higher prices.
The one category of Norwegian exports that saw decreases year over year was crab. Both king crab and snow crab saw volume and value decreases. King crab exports dropped 15 percent in volume to 158 MT, and achieved a value of NOK 68 million (USD 7.1 million, EUR 6.2 million), a drop of 42 percent.
"The U.S. remained by far the largest market for Norwegian king crab, but also accounted for the biggest decline," Voraa said.
Snow crab also dropped in volume, falling 71 percent to just 181 MT. By value, snow crab exports fell 69 percent to NOK 35 million (USD 3.7 million, EUR 3.2 million).
"A larger proportion of this year's snow crab was exported earlier in the season than last year, resulting in lower available volumes," Voraa said. "This explains much of the 71 percent decline in export volume compared with the same month last year."
