This is the second consecutive year that Norway's export value has fallen. In 2012, it exported 2.36 million metric tons of seafood, a drop of 78,000 metric tons compared with 2011.
Despite weak economies in key markets, Norway has retained its competitiveness and taken market share, according to the NSEC.
Norway is now the largest seafood provider of both the EU and Russia. About 20 percent of seafood imported into the EU are of Norwegian origin. And for Russia, the figure is 38 percent, said NSEC's CEO Terje E. Martinussen.
The EU is the Norwegian seafood industry's main market area, and 57 per cent of total seafood exports went to EU countries in 2012. Exports to the EU totaled NOK 29.6 billion (€4 billion/$5.3 billion) in 2012, which is NOK 1.3 billion (€176.1 million/$233.1 million) lower than last year due to lower price of cod and salmon, while the volume of salmon exports remained strong.
Russia was the largest single market for Norwegian seafood in 2012, with exports totaling NOK 6 billion (€812.9 million/$1.1 billion). This was the largest growth so far in Russia. France is the second largest single market with an export value of NOK 4.9 billion (€663.9 million/$878.5 million).
Japan had the biggest drop in export value, dropping by NOK 755 million (€102.3 million/$135.4 million) to reach NOK 2.1 billion (€284.5 million/$376.5 million), mainly due to lower exports mackerel.
Aquaculture increases
Increased export volume for both salmon and trout led to a growth of Norwegian aquaculture exports to NOK 600 million (€81.3 million/$107.6 million), to NOK 31.5 billion (€4.3 billion/$5.6 billion) in 2012. Aquaculture accounts for 61 percent of total seafood exports in 2012. The export of salmon was worth NOK 29.6 billion (€4 billion/$5.3 billion), while exports of trout totaled NOK 1.7 billion (€230.3 million/$304.8 million).
Global trends such as sushi and salmon health promises have become popular through aggressive marketing.
Over several years, Norwegian aquaculture has invested in building itself in such markets to develop distribution.
Decline in fisheries
After a record year in 2011 for the traditional Norwegian fisheries sector, 2012 was a year of low prices and reduced volumes. The export value of fishery totaled NOK 20.1 billion (€2.7 billion/$3.6 billion), a decrease of NOK 2.4 billion (€325.2 million/$430.3 million).
Mackerel accounts for NOK 634 million (€85.9 million/$113.7 million) of this decline, due to a fall in prices. Less herring quotas explains a decrease of NOK 183 million (€24.8 million/$32.8 million) for exports of herring. Cod and saithe sold for respectively NOK497 million and NOK485 million. Norway has exported shrimp and shellfish for NOK 800 million (€108.4 million/$143.4 million), which represents a decrease of 10 percent compared to 2011.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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