Scottish salmon exports increased to 844 million pounds in 2024, enhancing its situation as the best food export in the United Kingdom, driven by sales of prosperity in France and the United States.
HMRC trade data revealed an increase of 45 percent on an annual basis, comfortably exceeding the highest previous level of 618 million pounds in 2019. Export sizes rose, as 59 percent rose to 101466 tons, with Scottish salmon reaching 48 Market.
France remained the largest buyer, with exports with 70 percent to 462 million pounds and its sizes increased by 87 percent to 59,877 tons. The United States followed, where it recorded a value of 61 percent to 225 million pounds, in addition to increasing its size by 85 percent to 24,410 tons. China has also seen significant growth, as exports increased by 60 percent to 76 million pounds, driven by an increase of 107 percent in size to 8175 tons.
However, not all markets were well implemented. Exports to Poland decreased by 31.5 million pounds to 5 million pounds, while sales to the Netherlands decreased by 12.3 million pounds to 2 million pounds only.
Tafish Scott, CEO of Salmoun Scotland, attributed registry numbers to the “growing global demand” of Scottish peace. The sector directly employs about 2,500 people in Scotland, supporting the supply chain 10,000 other jobs.
However, this industry is still under scrutiny of environmental and animal welfare groups regarding concerns, including fish mortality rates, escape, and chemical treatments. Last month, the Committee for the Rural Affairs and the islands in the Scottish Parliament recommended that fish farms be closed constantly.
Scott defended the standards of industry, saying: “Salmon farmers in our rural and coastal societies come out every day to raise healthy fish that ends up on panels in dozens of countries. Producers have also invested hundreds of millions of pounds to enhance the world's leading luxury standards.”
He called for “the best organization, not less than the government, on the pretext that improved policies can push more economic growth and job creation.
While salmon exports increased, the value of Scotch whiskey – the pioneer of the drink in the UK – witnessed a decrease of 3.7 percent to 5.4 billion pounds in 2024.
Although staying in the most valuable market, US sales decreased by 0.7 percent to 978 million pounds. Meanwhile, exports to France, Singapore and Taiwan decreased sharply, as India only showed growth between the first five whiskey markets, as it rose 13.8 percent to 248 million pounds.
Individual whiskey, which is usually placed at the outstanding end of the market, has suffered a decrease in sales by 17.2 percent to 1.7 billion pounds. However, the packed mixture in the dominant category bottles remained, increasing by 4.4 percent to 3.2 billion pounds.
“Abroad, tectonic trading panels are turning, and exports to traditional strong markets in the European Union and North America have become more challenging.”