Sales of Scottish Farmed Salmon continue to break records with a rise of 9.1% in a year. Sales hit more than £1.2 billion in the 12 months to June, accounting for over a quarter (28 per cent) of all fish bought in the UK.
Smoked salmon made up 25.2% of salmon sales.
The industry is currently under scrutiny by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee of the Scottish Parliament which is holding a follow-up inquiry into the implementation of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s session 5 report recommendations for salmon farming in Scotland. The report considered the state of the salmon industry in Scotland, identified opportunities for its future development and explored how fish health and environmental challenges could be addressed.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:
“Scottish salmon’s success as the UK’s biggest food export is well known, but salmon is also by far the most popular fish here at home. Salmon accounts for more than a quarter of all UK seafood sales, with consumers eager for a highly nutritious, locally sourced meal.
“While this is fantastic news for the health of the nation, it also highlights how vital salmon is for our economy, supporting thousands of jobs – both in remote coastal communities and across Scotland.
“The popularity of Scottish salmon continues to soar, both at home and abroad, and we are heading for a record-breaking year. This reflects the strong consumer confidence in Scottish salmon, which remains as robust as ever.”
Exports of Scottish Farmed Salmon data for the third quarter shows international sales up 11% to £191 million between June and September, bringing the nine-month total to £622 million. This surpasses the £618 million full-year total from 2019, the highest on record. Growth has been driven by increased exports to key markets including France, the USA, and China, with Taiwan and Singapore rounding out the top five.
Each quarter of 2024 has seen rises in both volume and sales, with April-to-June recording the largest growth. Scottish salmon, farmed in five areas across Scotland’s west coast and northern islands, remains the UK’s largest food export.
Value sales, year to June 2024:
Fish: £4,356,979,000 – up 4.8%
Total salmon: £1,208,852,000 – up 9.1%
Warm water prawns: £280,049,000 – down 0.5%
Cod: £236,851,000 – up 8.1%
Mixed seafood: £194,076,000 – up 1%
Haddock: £163,6492,000 – up 6.2 %
Cold water prawns: £120,073,000 – down 1.1%
Sea bass: £78,905,000 – up 2.5%
Mackerel: £71,050,000 – up 11%
Tuna: £43,617,000 – up 4.5%
Crabstick: £38,858,000 – down 3.6%
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