The country’s seafood exports topped NOK 16.8bn in the first quarter of 2014, a NOK 3.36bn increase from NOK 13.44bn the same time last year.
Much of this hike was driven by salmon sales, which soared by NOK 2.6 billion ($435 million) to NOK 10.7bn over the same period — accounting for 77% of the increase, and 63% of the total export value.
However, with the exception of herring all other categories also experienced growth.
146% increase in fresh cod volumes
Exports of fresh cod, fillets included, were up by NOK 306m or 66%, to NOK 770m. This was driven by a more than doubling in volumes, up 146% from 15,000 metric tons to 37,000t.
This reflects a highly successful season of fishing for skrei, or Arctic cod, said the Norwegian seafood council.
“A very strong demand for salmon and a fairy-tale skrei season in the winter are the main reasons that we now see a new export record in the first quarter,” said the council’s market information director Egil Ove Sundheim.
The export value is a new record for Norway, which already recorded record exports for 2013, also driven by strong salmon prices.
Frozen cod sales up 58%
Frozen cod exports were also up, by 58% or NOK 240m in value, to NOK 657m. In volume, the increase was of 63% or 14,000t to 36,000t.
Salmon sales up 33%, trout up 30%
Salmon was unsurprisingly the big earner, with sales up by NOK 2.6bn or 33%, to NOK 10.7bn. The average export price of whole, Norwegian salmon was NOK 43.88 per kilo in March, compared to NOK 37.59 in March 2013.
Poland and France were the biggest markets.
Trout exports also rose strongly, up 30% or NOK 146m to NOK 632m. The increase as even stronger in March, when exports soared 60% to NOK 227m. Russia and Japan are Norway’s biggest markets.
Klippfisk and salted fish
Sales of klippfisk — known also as bacalao — also rose, by 16% or NOK 119m, to NOK 862m. In volumes, sales were up by 2,500t.
Salted fish sales rose by 34% or NOK 93m, to NOK 368m, while volumes were up 2,400t to 13,354t.
Herring down, mackerel up
Within pelagics, herring was down by NOK 107m or 13%, to NOK 720m. Exports in March only were down 19% or NOK 33m to NOK 143m. Russia and Germany were the biggest markets.
Mackerel exports on the other hand soared 40% or NOK 189m to NOK 661m. In March, the increase was of a modest 5% or NOK 5m. China and the Netherlands were the key markets here.
(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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