The Scottish salmon farming industry has enjoyed a strong start to the year with increased sales in both its domestic and overseas markets.
U.K. sales of Scottish salmon for the 12 months ending 23 April 2016 increased by 6 percent year-on-year to GBP 873.6 million (USD 1.2 billion, EUR 1 billion), according to new figures published by the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO). In addition, exports in the first-quarter increased by 2,000 metric tons (MT) to 18,418 MT, earning the industry an additional GBP 15 million (USD 19.8 million, EUR 18 million).
Scottish salmon is sold in more than 60 markets.
“It’s been challenging putting in place a whole supply chain from growing the fish, harvesting, processing right through to delivery to the final customer, but our producers have nailed it. Shipping from some of the tiniest communities, in some of the remotest parts of Scotland, to massive trading hubs in Paris, New York and Singapore, producers have developed logistical supply chains to deliver customer orders no matter what,” said Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of SSPO.
Meanwhile, following last week’s referendum, which saw the United Kingdom vote to leave the EU, Landsburgh has underlined the global importance of Scottish salmon as a product and an industry.
“Salmon farming will continue business as usual and is confident that, as Scotland’s No. 1 food export, Scottish salmon will continue to consolidate its commercial success in the coming months and in the long term, with the accompanying benefit to our national economy and to the rural communities where the industry operates. This confidence comes from the fact that we produce a world-class, premium product.
Europe is an important market representing around 40 percent of our export tonnage, but we export to more than 60 countries including the U.S. and Far East,” he said.
