Norway’s seafood exports reached NOK 16 billion in August, with strong salmon volumes and higher prices helping drive a 14% year-on-year increase.
Norway’s seafood exports reached a record value of NOK 16 billion in August 2026, marking a 14% increase, or NOK 1.9 billion, compared with the same month last year. According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, the strong performance was mainly driven by higher salmon volumes combined with increased prices, while cod, mackerel, herring and saithe also recorded price growth.
Norway has exported seafood worth NOK 115.7 billion during the first eight months of 2026, up NOK 2.6 billion, or 2%, from the corresponding period in 2025. The August results also brought renewed growth in the US market, where Norwegian seafood exports increased in value for the first time this year despite higher tariff conditions.
The US received Norwegian seafood worth approximately NOK 1.1 billion in August, representing a 4% year-on-year increase. Poland remained the largest market at NOK 2.23 billion, followed by China at NOK 1.4 billion, the Netherlands at NOK 1.16 billion, the US at NOK 1.13 billion and the UK at NOK 900 million. China also continued to show strong demand, particularly for salmon, haddock and blue whiting.
Salmon was the standout performer during the month. Norway exported 153,602 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 12.3 billion in August, with export value increasing by NOK 2 billion, or 19%, while volume rose 7% compared with August 2025. The result represented the highest monthly export value ever recorded for Norwegian salmon, exceeding the previous record from October 2025 by NOK 19 million.
Poland, the Netherlands and China were the leading destinations for Norwegian salmon. Salmon exports to Poland reached 28,800 tonnes, up 21% year on year, while export value increased by NOK 487 million, or 32%. The Netherlands recorded a NOK 293 million, or 40%, increase in salmon export value. Strong demand for processed salmon products across European markets also contributed to the overall growth.
Favourable biological conditions during the summer helped provide Norway with larger quantities of high-quality salmon. The Norwegian Seafood Council also pointed to continuing global demand, including demand from the sushi segment, as an important factor supporting salmon prices and export values.
Aquaculture continued to account for a growing share of Norway’s seafood export value. Farmed seafood generated NOK 13 billion in August, representing 81.4% of the country’s total seafood export value, the highest share recorded to date. In the whitefish segment, farmed cod accounted for 72% of the export value of fresh cod during the month.
Other seafood categories delivered mixed results. Norway exported 6,337 tonnes of trout worth NOK 551 million, with value declining 13% and volume falling 28%. Fresh cod exports were worth NOK 165 million, up 24% in value, while the export value of farmed fresh cod almost doubled, rising 99% to NOK 118 million.
Frozen cod exports reached NOK 205 million, an increase of 14% despite a 4% decline in volume. Clipfish exports also strengthened, with value rising 29% to NOK 658 million. Dried cod exports increased 43% in value to NOK 385 million, while salted fish exports rose sharply to NOK 85 million, representing a 177% year-on-year increase.
Prawn exports also recorded positive value growth. Norway exported 2,889 tonnes of prawns worth NOK 198 million in August, with export value increasing 32% while volume remained broadly stable. At the same time, mackerel, herring, king crab and snow crab experienced declines in export volumes and, in several cases, export value.
The August performance highlights the continuing importance of salmon to Norway’s seafood export economy while also demonstrating changes within the wider seafood portfolio. Rising demand in major international markets, higher prices and the increasing contribution of aquaculture are shaping Norway’s seafood trade as the country moves through 2026.