May 4, 2011

Scotland's 2010 salmon export sales hit record high

Export sales of Scottish salmon hit a new record 78,611 tonnes during 2010, according to industry figures announced Monday (May 2).

The Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO) said the performance, up 20% on 2009, confirmed salmon as Scotland's largest food export.

On-year figures for the first nine months of last year showed growth at 10% to 60,599 tonnes, highlighting a substantial sales surge during the final quarter.

It was the second consecutive year of rising exports for the industry in Scotland amid growing global demand.

"Exports have increased over 650% during the past 20 years. The strong performance demonstrates that the salmon-farming sector is playing a key role in the export-led economic recovery," said SSPO chief executive Scott Landsburgh.

The new figures emerged on the eve of the world's largest international seafood showcase, the three-day European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Europe events. Together, the two shows are expected to attract more than 24,000 visitors from 140 countries.

The most recent annual production survey showed the first increase in Scottish farmed salmon output in five years, a 12% rise.

UK consumers continue to be the most important market by some distance, but sales volume to seven of the top 10 importers grew in 2010.

Scottish salmon now reaches 54 countries worldwide, with France being the top importer annually at 26,475 tonnes, according to the SSPO. Growing and emerging markets include Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, eastern Europe and the Middle East.