March 11, 2010
Scottish salmon exports leap 24%
Over 13 million fresh Scottish salmon were exported in 2009, up 24% as compared to the previous year, according to Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO).
Exports of fresh salmon leapt to 65,480 tonnes from 52,671 tonnes the previous year. Scottish salmon now reaches 55 countries worldwide. Europe remains the industry's biggest export market, with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain and Irish Republic as notable importers. The US, Canada and the Far East are the biggest destinations in the rest of the world.
With continuing high overseas demand, an increasing appetite for health enhancing foods and a forecast that the global market for salmon will have an undersupply of 190,000 tonnes in 2010 – which is the equivalent of one and half times the size of the Scottish salmon industry – the sector is optimistic about future market demand.
Salmon exports worth EUR220 million account for over 55% of Scotland's total food exports worth GBP400 million. The strong export trade has been built solidly on Scottish provenance, the product's PGI status awarded by the European Commission and premium taste, quality and character.
Meanwhile, as part of its policy to increase sustainable economic growth, the Scottish government has identified the food and drink sectors as key economic areas for development. The target is to increase the value of the food and drink sectors from GBP7.5 billion to GBP12.5 billion by 2017.
