International sales of Scottish salmon reached a record GBP 844 million last year, representing an increase of 45% on 2023’s total and consolidating the product’s position as the UK’s top food export, new figures published by HMRC confirm.
Grown in the Scottish waters off the northwest Highlands, Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, salmon exports were sent to 48 countries in 2024.
According to HMRC’s figures, Scottish salmon exports outperformed Cheddar cheese and other popular British products like lamb and beef. The 2024 export total also smashes the previous record value of GBP 618 million set in 2019.
In volume terms, 101,466 tonnes of salmon were exported last year, which was 59% or 37,452 tonnes more than in 2023.
With regards to markets, France remained top, accounting for 55% of the total value of all Scottish salmon exports, followed by the United States (27%).
The new figures came at the same time as survival rates on salmon farms in Scotland reached a four-year high of 82.3%. This improvement in survival has led to more food being available to export to meet international demand.
“Today’s record exports demonstrate the increasing global demand for Scottish salmon, which is rightly recognised as the best in the world and increasingly sought after by discerning consumers,” said Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of trade body Salmon Scotland. “Salmon farmers in our rural and coastal communities go out every day to raise healthy fish which end up on plates in dozens of countries. Producers have also invested hundreds of millions of pounds to further boost already world-leading welfare standards. And, here at home, nutritious salmon is the UK’s most popular fish – helping to improve people’s diets.”
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes commented: “These exceptional figures clearly demonstrate the surging global demand for Scottish salmon, which is rightly recognised as a premium high-quality product.”
Forbes also acknowledged that the farmed salmon sector is very important to Scotland’s economy and said that Scottish Government is fully committed to working with industry to aid sector growth in overseas markets, whilst solidifying their premier status in domestic markets.
“In doing so, we will continue to drive sustainable growth, which will have significant economic benefits,” she said.
Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “Salmon is the jewel in the crown of Scotland’s world-class produce and today’s figures underline its global reputation for unrivalled quality.
“A key part of the UK government’s Brand Scotland initiative is selling the very best of Scotland to the world. Scottish salmon, and our support for the sector, is an important part of that. It’s a vital element of our Plan for Change, to drive economic growth and put more money in people’s pockets right across the UK,” McNeill said.
