UK salmon sales up nearly 5%

Consumers in the UK are eating more salmon and more fresh, chilled fish in general despite a fall in fish consumption overall.

The latest economic report from producers’ organisation Salmon Scotland finds that retail sales for Scottish salmon in the UK went up to £1.1bn last year. Sales of fresh, chilled salmon rise by 4.9% per cent from £1,047m in 2020, with the volumes consumed increasing 7.8% to 63,300 tonnes, up from 58,700 tonnes.

The total fresh chilled fish market increased by 4.2% in terms of sales to £2.6bn, but there was a slight fall in the overall fish market of 0.2% to £4.24bn.

The report also further analyses official UK Government export figures, revealing the total volume of Scottish salmon sold abroad was 97,835 tonnes in 2021 – a 36 per cent increase year-on-year.

This included strong recoveries in mature markets such as France and the USA, but also high growth in China and Singapore. Scottish salmon remains the UK’s number one food export.

Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland commented: “The rise in consumption here in the UK shows that more consumers recognise the health values and unrivalled quality of Scottish salmon, with year-on-year improvements to the way producers are rearing and feeding their stock which meet the highest welfare standards.

“Our industry is also a global success story… all this is testament to the hard work and dedication of Scotland’s farmers, who produce a world-leading product that makes a massive contribution to our economy and people’s health.”