Salmon leaps to new record exports level

Scottish salmon export sales have leapt to a new record of £483 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same period last year, new figures out today show.

That is 56 per cent up, with France overtaking the United States as the biggest single country market, says the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO).

In the past three months, 21,000 tonnes of fresh salmon were exported, worth £136m, up 29 per cent in value and 25 per cent in volume compared with last year.

The latest figures from HMRC show France became the biggest export market in the year Scottish salmon celebrates the 25th anniversary of being awarded the French government’s Label Rouge for taste and quality.

Scott Landsburgh, SSPO chief executive, said: “Arguably, France is the most discerning culinary nation in the world and it has been a marvellous tribute to everyone who works on our salmon farms that, year after year, the French inspectors have rewarded us with this accolade.

“The export success of Scottish salmon is a trail-blazer for other Scottish food overseas and a major contributor to rural Scotland.

“Our achievement means that young people, communities and local suppliers all benefit from the economic success.”

James Withers, chief executive of the Scotland Food & Drinks trade body, labelled the latest record-breaking figure “phenomenal”, underlining salmon’s status as Scotland’s biggest food export. 0 Scott Landsburgh: ‘discerning French’