Record August for Norwegian fish and seafood
Norwegian export of fish and seafood reached a historically high value in August 2026.
According to Norges sjømatråd Norway exported marine products this month for 16 billion kroner, which is 1,9 billion NOK more than a year earlier. This represents an increase of 14 percent.
Check the full data from Norges sjømatråd
Interestingly, the record was set despite the Norwegian krone being stronger than a year earlier. According to Norges sjømatråd the growth was driven primarily by larger salmon exports, higher prices and price increases for, among others, cod, mackerel, herring and saithe.
Poland the largest market
For Polish readers it is particularly interesting that Poland was in August the largest recipient of Norwegian fish and seafood.
The value of exports to Poland amounted to about 2,23 billion NOK, which is as much as 36 percent more than in August of the previous year. The next largest were China, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Norges sjømatråd notes that Poland is not only an important country for processing Norwegian salmon. Consumption of these products is also growing on the Polish market itself.
Salmon accounts for the majority of export value
Salmon remains by far the most important product of the Norwegian fish industry.
In August Norway exported 153 602 tonnes of salmon worth 12,3 billion NOK. Value increased by 19 percent, and volume by 7 percent compared with August 2025. This was a new monthly record for the value of salmon exports.
The largest markets for Norwegian salmon were:
Poland,
the Netherlands,
China.
About 28 800 tonnes of salmon went to Poland alone, which is 21 percent more than a year earlier.
Trout weaker this time
Unlike the results from 2024, trout did not set another record in August 2026.
Norway exported 6337 tonnes of trout worth 551 million NOK. Value fell by 13 percent, and volume by 28 percent compared with August of the previous year. Poland, the United States and Ukraine were the largest recipients of Norwegian trout.
Increasing importance of aquaculture
In August the value of exports of farmed fish reached 13 billion NOK, which corresponded to 81.4 percent of the total value of Norwegian seafood exports. This was the highest such share in history.
Changes are also visible in the case of cod. As much as 72 percent of the value of fresh cod exports in August came from farmed sources, which was also a record.
Not all species recorded growth
The overall record did not mean a good month for the entire industry.
Mackerel exports fell sharply both in terms of volume and value. Norway sold abroad 4926 tonnes of mackerel for 236 million NOK, which is 49 percent less in value than a year earlier.
Among others, king crab also recorded a weaker August. On the other hand, better results were recorded for klippfisk, salted fish, dried fish and shrimp.
Fish exports remain key to the Norwegian economy
Data from Statistics Norway confirm the importance of the sector. According to SSB in August 2026 fish exports reached 15,1 mld NOK, which is 11.6 percent more than a year earlier and was the highest monthly value of fish exports in 2026.
The difference between SSB's data and Norges sjømatråd results from the scope of the statistics: Norges sjømatråd reports more broadly on the total export of marine products.
However, the main picture remains the same:
fish and seafood are still one of Norway's most important export commodities, and Poland remains one of the key recipients.
Information verified: 25 September 2026.
