Scottish salmon is both Scotland's and the UK's largest food export, ahead of even cheese and chocolate. Global demand for this high quality product continues to grow and in 2022, Scottish salmon was exported to 54 countries, making up 41 per cent of the UK's exported seafood.
The top 6 export markets in descending order are France, USA, China, Poland, Taiwan and the Netherlands. Japan is also a key market, with Scottish salmon prized by chefs and consumers alike for creating the highest quality sushi and sashimi.
Most Scottish salmon exports (around 64 percent) go to the EU, with a fifth of that being Label Rouge certified fish. The Label Rouge quality mark is an official endorsement by the French authorities of the superior quality of a food or farmed product, particularly with regard to taste. Scottish salmon was the first non-French product, and the first seafood product, to receive this accolade, and a celebration of the 30th anniversary of this achievement was held in Paris in 2022.
Most Scottish salmon bound for the EU travels as road freight to major distribution hubs and markets such as the major French fishing port Boulogne-sur-Mer. Harvested at midnight in Scotland it can be on continental plates by the following day.
Outside the EU, the USA remains Scottish salmon’s largest market.
Fresh Scottish salmon exported to the likes of the USA and the Far East travels as air freight, with the majority leaving the UK in the holds of scheduled passenger flights from Heathrow.
All of which is great news for Scotland, where the sector sustains more than 12,500 jobs both directly and indirectly and invests heavily into local communities, providing much-needed employment and economic support.
Scottish salmon will continue to blaze an international trail for Scottish food overseas and be a crucial ambassador for the Scotland's food and drink sector.