Norway’s seafood export value increased year over year in April, defying a difficult trading environment and lower salmon prices.
According to data collected by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Norway exported NOK 14.3 billion (USD 1.39 billion, EUR 1.22 billion) worth of seafood in April 2025, marking an increase of NOK 293 million (USD 28.5 million, EUR 25 million), or 2 percent, over the same period of 2024.
“Despite the turmoil in world trade, the favorable trend for Norwegian seafood exports continued. Norway has never before exported seafood for a higher value in the month of April,” NSC CEO Christian Chramer said. “The growth is due to increased export volumes and rising demand for Norwegian salmon in important markets such as the U.S. and China.”
Norway exported NOK 10 billion (USD 973 million, EUR 855 million) worth of salmon in April, accounting for 71 percent of the country’s total seafood export value and an increase of 3 percent over April 2024. The slight increase in value was largely thanks to a large increase in volume, as the country exported 106,339 metric tons (MT) of salmon in the month, marking an increase of 34 percent.
The average price for a kilogram of fresh salmon in the month was NOK 84.60 (USD 8.23, EUR 7.24), 29 percent lower than the same month of 2025.
"The growth in volume is linked to significantly higher sea temperatures compared with the same period a year ago," NSC Seafood Analyst Paul T. Aandahl said.
Chramer said the export patterns showed a shift in the flow of salmon from markets in Europe to markets in Asia and the U.S.
“Higher temperatures in the sea and fewer biological challenges meant that there was more superior quality salmon available in April than in the same month last year,” Chramer said. “This volume growth largely compensated for the falling salmon prices.”
Volume growth was also the trend for Norway’s seafood exports to the U.S. in April 2025, which increased to NOK 1.4 billion (USD 136 million, EUR 119 million), an increase of NOK 263 million (USD 25.6 million, EUR 22.5 million), or 23 percent, compared with the same month last year. For the month, the U.S. was the top market for Norwegian seafood – the fourth month in a row – despite the threat of potential U.S. tariffs.
“It is too early to conclude what effect this will have on Norwegian seafood exports, but the NSC is following this issue closely,” Chramer said.
He added that the market situation will likely be a big topic throughout Seafood Expo Global, running from 6 to 8 May in Barcelona, Spain.
Exports to China also increased in April 2025, reaching NOK 913.8 million (USD 88.9 million, EUR 78.2 million), an increase of 14 percent over April 2024. That value came on massive volume growth with Norway exporting 8,224 MT of salmon to the country, a 188 percent increase over April 2024. Sales of fresh whole salmon also increased by 33 percent.
“This is due to strong underlying growth in the Chinese salmon market and the fact that Norwegian salmon is both readily available and sold at competitive prices," Chramer said.
In contrast to salmon’s strong growth, exports of fresh cod continued to drop in volume thanks to lower quotas, but in April 2025, the value increased on strong pricing. Norway exported 4,228 MT of fresh cod worth NOK 333 million (USD 32.4 million, EUR 28.5 million), a decrease in volume of 14 percent but an increase in value of 7 percent.
Farmed cod also continues to make up a larger and larger share of Norway’s fresh cod exports. In April 2025, Norway exported 1,381 MT of fresh farmed cod, an increase of 17 percent. Those exports were worth NOK 91 million (USD 8.8 million, EUR 7.8 million), an increase of 32 percent.
Frozen cod, meanwhile, declined in both volume and value in April. Norway exported 3,590 MT of frozen cod worth NOK 283 million (USD 27.5 million, EUR 24.2 million) in the month, a decline of 49 percent and 37 percent compared to the same period of 2024.
Notably, exports of frozen whole cod to China fell 81 percent in April 2025, which NSC Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Brækkan said is likely the result of U.S. tariffs on Chinese products.
“Since the U.S. import ban on Russian cod was announced in December 2023, much of the Norwegian cod exported to China has been processed and re-exported to the U.S. market,” Brækkan said.
Norway’s mackerel exports also continued to do well in April 2025, with both the volume and the value of its exports increasing year over year. Norway exported 9,111 MT of mackerel, an increase in volume of 11 percent. Strong pricing lead the price to increase even further, reaching NOK 289 million (USD 28.1 million, EUR 24.7 million), a 38 percent increase over last year.
"An expected tight supply situation and solid demand for mackerel have resulted in price and value growth compared with April last year," Aandahl said.
Norway’s exports of crustaceans also did well in April 2025. The country exported 97 MT of king crab worth NOK 41 million (USD 4 million, EUR 3.5 million), an increase of 152 percent and 110 percent, respectively.
NSC Head of Shellfish Josefine Voraa said the growth is also thanks to more king crab being landed in Norway’s free area this year, compared to 2024.
“This has led to an increase in exports of both frozen and live king crab in April. The average size of king crab from the free area is smaller than in the quota area, which translates into a lower average export price," Voraa said.
The U.S. was the largest growth market for king crab, and exports of live king crab to Asia increased in both value and volume, according to the NSC.
Snow crab also saw value growth in April 2025, despite a decrease in volume. Norway exported snow crab worth NOK 218 million (USD 21 million, EUR 18 million) in April, an increase of 46 percent, despite an 18 percent drop in volume.
Norway also exported more prawn in April 2025 compared to 2024. The country exported 2,982 MT of prawn worth NOK 166 million (USD 16.1 million, EUR 14.2 million), an increase of 53 percent and 64 percent, respectively.
