Norwegian salmon exports fell in August after the United States lifted its seafood tariff to 15 percent, cutting the value of salmon shipments to the USA by 15% and weighing on overall seafood exports, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (Norges sjømatråd). Norway’s total seafood exports reached NOK 14.3 billion (€1.22 billion) in August, down 2 percent year-on-year.
Tariff increase to 15% reshapes the U.S. market
The USA moved on 7 August to raise duties on seafood from Norway and the EU to 15%, a change that immediately affected pricing and margins for exporters. In August, the value of all Norwegian seafood exports to the USA fell by 3%, while the drop for salmon specifically was 15%. For fresh whole salmon, a well‑paying niche in the USA, the category’s value fell 51 percent compared to the same month last year.
“One effect [of the new 15% tariff] is that it distorts competition. Canada faces no tariff on seafood entering the U.S., while Scottish and Faroese salmon have a 10 percent tariff,” noted Karine Rød Haraldsson, the Seafood Council’s representative in the United States.
Currency and competition pile pressure on salmon exporters
Beyond tariffs, a stronger krone, higher global supply and lower export prices have compressed values. The Seafood Council points to increased production in salmon‑producing countries and robust demand in Asia, which has tightened the availability of larger fish.
Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council (Norges sjømatråd), said producers are feeling intensified competition in the American salmon market.
China’s demand offsets some losses for Norwegian seafood
While the U.S. weakened, China emerged as the top growth market in August. For seafood overall, export value to China rose by NOK 350 million (about €30 million) versus a year earlier. For salmon alone, export value to China increased by NOK 349 million (≈€30 million) and volume jumped 114%, reflecting broader retail availability and sustained foodservice demand.
Norwegian salmon exports: where the losses may shift next
With Norway exporting salmon to around 100 countries, the sector remains diversified, reducing reliance on any single market. However, tariff differentials mean Norwegian salmon faces a pricing handicap in the USA relative to competitors from Canada (0%) and the UK/Faroe Islands (10%).
Absent a negotiated change, exporters may continue to reallocate volumes toward Europe and Asia—notably Poland and the Netherlands for processing, and China for end‑consumption.
Outlook for Nordic–EU trade and policy
In the near term, values may remain under pressure if the 15 percent U.S. tariff stays in place and the krone remains firmer. Industry groups and the Norwegian government are pursuing talks with USA counterparts, but timing and outcomes are uncertain.
For EU and Nordic supply chains, the shift could reconfigure salmon flows, with more processing within Europe and greater reliance on Asian demand to absorb surplus.
August confirms that USA tariffs are a material headwind for Norwegian salmon exports, nudging the industry to rebalance sales toward markets with lower trade barriers and strong demand.
