Origin guide
Norway salmon exports: 2024 figures, main markets and EEA rules
Short answer: Norway was the largest exporter of fresh or chilled whole salmon in 2024 (US$8.04 billion, 964,705 t), and FAO ranks it second for all fisheries and aquaculture exports (about US$16.0 billion, mainly farmed Atlantic salmon). As part of the European Economic Area, Norway applies EU food-safety rules; 1059 Norwegian fishery establishments appear on the EEA-side listing.
Data year 2024 · trade figures checked 21 October 2026 · EU listings checked 23 October 2026
2024 figures
HS 030212 covers whole fresh or chilled salmon only; fillets and frozen salmon are other codes, and the code does not separate farmed from wild.
| Exporter | 2024 value | Quantity | Read with care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | US$8.04 billion | 964,705 t | |
| Sweden | US$3.66 billion | 432,557 t | Sweden's imports are almost equal (US$3.68 billion): largely transit trade, not Swedish farming. |
| Chile | US$1.17 billion | 152,147 t | |
| United Kingdom | US$1.07 billion | 101,524 t | |
| Canada | US$668 million | 73,300 t |
| Importer | 2024 value | Quantity | Read with care |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | US$7.09 billion | 849,957 t | Aggregate, includes Sweden, Poland, France and Denmark. |
| Poland | US$1.57 billion | 196,740 t | EU member; a salmon processing hub. |
| United States | US$1.43 billion | 133,110 t | |
| France | US$1.35 billion | 144,617 t | EU member. |
| China | US$1.07 billion | 93,601 t | |
| Brazil | US$862 million | 110,550 t |
Norway and EU rules
- Norway is a member of the European Economic Area. EU veterinary and food-safety legislation applies in Norway through Annex I to the EEA Agreement, and trade in fish is also covered by the Agreement's fish protocol.
- Norwegian establishments are approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet).
- Buyers outside the EEA apply their own country's import rules to Norwegian salmon.
EU-listed fishery establishments
Norway establishments on the EU list for fishery products: 1,059 (list updated 15 October 2026).
Fresh fishery products plant 623 · Processing plant 405 · Factory vessel 227 · Freezer vessel 83 · Reefer vessel 24 · Wholesale market 1
One establishment can be listed for more than one activity, so activity counts can add up to more than the total.
Norway is in the European Economic Area, so its establishments are approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and appear on the EEA-side listing rather than the third-country list.
Approvals can change: establishments are added, suspended and removed, and these counts are a snapshot read on 23 October 2026. A listing covers fishery products in general — it does not name species or show that a plant handles frozen shrimp — and it does not replace other requirements such as health certificates or IUU catch certificates. FishMatch does not republish establishment names and does not imply any listed plant is a FishMatch supplier. Before contracting, check the live list and the exact approval number, and our team checks named plants during each request review.
What to verify before you buy
- Fresh or frozen, whole or fillet, and the trim specification.
- Size grade and the delivery window your cold chain can hold for fresh fish.
- The establishment's approval number and the documents your destination requires.
- Price basis (currency, Incoterm and validity) — fresh salmon prices move weekly.
Request a reviewed sourcing round
Free for buyers, for annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more. A person reviews every request before any producer is approached; buyers and suppliers stay confidential to each other and there is no direct contact. FishMatch Group coordinates sourcing and does not produce, certify, inspect or guarantee products.
Questions
- Is Sweden a big salmon producer?
- Sweden's fresh salmon exports are almost equal to its imports, which points to transit trade rather than Swedish farming.
- Does FishMatch publish salmon prices?
- No. The values here are customs totals, not prices; a reviewed request collects comparable offers instead.