China overtakes US as Norway's second-largest seafood market

Norway's seafood export value to China jumped 36 percent year-on-year to 4.9 billion Norwegian kroner (approximately $530 million) in the first four months of the year, propelling China to overtake the United States and become the second-largest market for Norwegian seafood.

"The biggest seafood product Norway is exporting to China for several years until now is the salmon, with tremendous growth over the past years," said Sigmund Bjorgo, China director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, on Thursday on the sidelines of the 2026 Seafood Expo Asia Pacific in Dalian, Liaoning province.

According to him, the salmon exports increased 68 percent in volume and 50 percent in value year-on-year in the January-April period.

Even more striking is the rise of Norwegian coldwater prawns, which have grown 87 percent in value, he said, given that just two years ago, there were almost no Norwegian companies exporting coldwater prawns to China. "Overnight, China became the biggest market for Norwegian prawn," he said.

Bjorgo said the rise of China contrasts sharply with turbulence in some other markets. Exports from Norway to the United States have decreased 33 percent in value so far this year. The only bigger market than China now is Poland, a processing hub for the European market.

"I would not be surprised that, if the growth in China continues, China might become the biggest market for Norwegian seafood quite soon," he said.