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) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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