SCOTTISH SALMON RETAINS TOP SPOT

Scottish salmon retains top spot as UK’s leading food export with £828m in 2025

Scottish salmon has once again confirmed its position as the UK’s most valuable food export, with international sales reaching £828 million in 2025, according to new figures from HM Revenue & Customs.

Export performance was driven by strong growth in Asia, where demand rose by more than 18%, particularly in China and Vietnam. The product continues to command a premium reputation globally for quality and provenance.

Farmed in waters around the north-west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, Scottish salmon was exported to 45 countries during the year. Total export volume reached a record 111,000 tonnes, up 9% year on year.

The HMRC data confirms Scottish salmon remains ahead of other major UK food exports, including cheese, lamb and beef. By volume, it is also the largest single food export handled at Heathrow Airport, reflecting the reliance on air freight to maintain freshness for overseas markets.

France remains the largest destination, accounting for 42% of total export value, followed closely by the United States at 40%.

Looking ahead, producers are preparing to expand into India as a new free trade agreement comes into force, opening further opportunities in a rapidly growing market.

Domestically, salmon continues to be the UK’s most popular fish, with retail sales rising 7.2% to £1.5 billion in the 12 months to August 2025. The sector supports around 2,500 direct jobs in coastal communities and a further 8,500 roles across the supply chain, contributing approximately £1 billion annually to the economy.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said the figures demonstrate “surging global appetite” for a product widely regarded as among the finest in the world, highlighting the importance of the sector to rural and island employment and calling for “smarter, more effective regulation” to unlock further growth.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the results underline the industry’s resilience in a challenging trading environment and its significant economic contribution, noting the sector was worth more than £1.3 billion to Scotland in 2024.

Meanwhile, Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill described salmon as “one of the jewels in the crown” of Scotland’s food and drink sector, pointing to trade agreements and export promotion initiatives as key drivers of continued international growth.

Image © Sabrina St. from Pixabay

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