Norway’s seafood export value declined in August, but the country’s export value to China spiked year over year.
According to statistics shared by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Norway exported NOK 14.3 billion (USD 1.4 billion, EUR 1.2 billion) worth of seafood in August 2025, marking a decline of NOK 254 million (USD 25.3 million, EUR 21.6 million), or 2 percent, compared to the same month in 2024. The decline came as lower salmon prices drove down the species’ export value, even as volume increased.
"The summer of 2025 has been marked by considerable turmoil in the markets,” Norwegian Seafood Council CEO Christian Chramer said in a release. “Changes in customs duties on exports to the U.S. are affecting Norwegian seafood exports and posing challenges for the global seafood trade.”
Increased tariffs from the U.S. on Norwegian seafood had an impact on Norway’s salmon exports in the month, causing declines in both value and volume. U.S. President Donald Trump finalized tariffs on dozens of countries on 31 July, which included a 15 percent tariff on all Norwegian products.
Seafood exports to the U.S. had been on the rise through the beginning of the year, and the U.S. was Norway’s largest seafood export market in H1 2025. Export values rose by 38 percent over the period compared to 2024, making it a fast-growing market for Norwegian seafood.
That trend came to an end after tariffs went into effect on 7 August, and seafood export value declined 3 percent to NOK 1.1 billion (USD 109 million, EUR 94 million) during the month. According to the NSC, the value of salmon exports fell 15 percent.
"Salmon is the dominant species exported from Norway to the U.S., but Norwegian producers are now experiencing increased competition in the U.S. salmon market,” Chramer said. “There are different customs tariffs for different countries, and in August, the Norwegian krone strengthened against the dollar compared to the same month last year. This lifted the prices of Norwegian seafood in the U.S. market."
The NSC said the top Norwegian salmon product, fresh whole salmon, saw big declines in export value to the U.S. in the month. Values of fresh whole salmon exported to the U.S. declined by 51 percent in August 2025 compared to August 2024. The declines came as Norway faced a higher tariff than other salmon-producing countries such as Scotland, Canada, Norway, and the Faroe Islands.
"Overall production has increased in salmon-producing countries that have lower tariffs to the U.S. than Norway,” NSC U.S. Representative Karine Rød Haraldsson said. “Competition has thus increased further as a result.”
NSC Communications Director Martin Skaug told SeafoodSource in August the country’s seafood marketing strategy to the U.S. will remain unchanged – but also said the country plans to closely monitor how the increased tariffs affect the strategies of seafood producers in Norway.
Norway has also been grappling with a large supply of salmon as the summer of 2025 proved to have ideal conditions for growing both salmon and trout, resulting in high volumes and low prices.
Overall, Norway exported 145,466 metric tons (MT) of salmon worth NOK 10.6 billion (USD 1 billion, EUR 905 million) in August 2025, representing a drop in value of NOK 95 million (USD 9.4 million, EUR 8.1 million) and an increase in volume of 17 percent compared to August 2024.
"For our largest product, fresh whole salmon, the export price has not been this low since September 2022," Chramer said.
While values to other top Norwegian destinations Poland and Denmark also declined in August by 7 percent and 16 percent, respectively, exports to China continued to rise. The country posted the highest value growth in August, rising 47 percent, or NOK 350 million (USD 34.8 million, EUR 29.8 million), to NOK 1.1 billion (USD 109 million, EUR 94 million).
Trout exports, however, declined during the month, falling by both value and volume.
Norway exported 8,907 MT of trout worth NOK 638 million (USD 63.5 million, EUR 54.4 million) in August 2025, marking a drop of 6 percent by volume and 16 percent by value.
Fresh cod export volumes also continued their decline, while the export value declined at a slower rate on high pricing. Norway exported 1,842 MT of fresh cod worth NOK 134 million (USD 13.3 million, EUR 11.4 million), a drop of 21 percent by volume and 6 percent by value.
While fresh cod exports continued to decline, fresh farmed cod continued to make gains. Export volumes of fresh farmed cod increased by 6 percent to 817 MT, while export value increased 26 percent to NOK 59 million (USD 5.8 million, EUR 5 million).
Frozen cod exports also declined in the month. Norway exported 2,057 MT of frozen cod worth NOK 182 million (USD 18.1 million, EUR 15.5 million), a drop of 24 percent and 6 percent respectively. China was the largest market for the species in the month – the first time it has reached that amount since January 2025.
While salmon and cod experienced declines, Norway’s mackerel exports jumped in value due to strong pricing. Norway exported 12,093 MT of mackerel worth NOK 460 million (USD 45.8 million, EUR 39.3 million), a drop in volume of 30 percent but an increase in value of 7 percent.
"With a significantly lower quota and a continued tight supply of mackerel globally, it was expected that prices would be pushed upward,” NSC Pelagic Species Analyst Jan Eirik Johnsen said in a release.
The predictions proved correct as mackerel under 600 grams hit a record price.
Exports of king crab also performed well due to demand in the U.S. Norway exported 195 MT of king crab worth NOK 117 million (USD 11.6 million, EUR 10 million) in August 2025, a 10 percent decline in volume but a 16 percent increase in value. The largest market for the species in the month was the U.S.
NSC Head of Shellfish Josefine Voraa attributed the increases in exports to the U.S. to the country’s sanctions against Russia. Russia, in turn, shipped more crab to Asia driving down prices in the region, while its absence in the U.S. drove up prices for Norwegian king crab.
