© Scottish Sea Farms
In the midst of the festive period - traditionally a booming period for consumption of Scottish salmon - sales figures for the industry have been reported to have reached over £1.2 billion, accounting for 28 percent of all fish bought in the UK.
The year-on-year growth for salmon outpaced the 4.8 percent rise recorded for all fish and, in the chilled seafood sector, salmon maintained its leading position, holding 48 per cent of the value share among the top 10 chilled species. Smoked salmon makes up just over a quarter of salmon sales, with demand expected to rise further during the festive season.
Separately, exports of Scottish salmon are on track for a record-breaking year, with third-quarter data showing international sales up 11 percent to £191 million between June and September, bringing the nine-month total to £622 million. This surpasses the £618 million full-year total from 2019, the highest on record. Growth has been driven by increased exports to key markets including France, the USA, and China, with Taiwan and Singapore rounding out the top five.
"The popularity of Scottish salmon continues to soar, both at home and abroad, and we are heading for a record-breaking year. While this is fantastic news for the health of the nation, it also highlights how vital salmon is for our economy, supporting thousands of jobs – both in remote coastal communities and across Scotland," commented Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, in a press release.
