"The market is tightening." A buyer revealed that the current factory price for 4–5 kg specifications is around 75 Norwegian kroner per kilogram, with fish over 5 kg reaching up to 76–80 kroner. "Although the increase is not large, the price is steadily rising, which is crucial—indicating that demand is still supporting."
China market becomes pricing key
Industry insiders generally point out that the biggest contributor to the current price stabilization is China's sustained strong demand. "Large fish over 6 kg almost entirely rely on the Chinese market for support," a wholesaler directly stated, "Without Chinese procurement, the price of 6+ specifications would have already fallen below the mid-small specifications."
Data shows that the price of head-cut and gutted Atlantic salmon imported by China (over 6 kg) has already exceeded 80 Norwegian kroner per kilogram (approximately 54 yuan), higher than the same specifications in the European and American markets. A large amount of fish must be air-freighted into China, so air-freight capacity and consumption pace are directly affecting the global salmon pricing logic.
Market concerns and hopes coexist
Despite the price rise, exporters remain cautious. "If the price jumps too quickly, buyers will halt orders," an industry insider pointed out. The current "small step increase" is a reflection of market rationality. If the current pace is maintained, the fourth quarter may see a stable profit period.
Farmers are also paying attention to changes in the export structure. "If they can package exports to China, fish over 6 kg can sell for 80–86 kroner, otherwise they can only be processed at a flat price," a farmer stated.
Industry observation: Structural transformation behind price support
This round of price increase is not a general rise. Small specifications (2–3 kg) prices are still around 67 kroner, while mid-large specifications (4–6 kg) have seen a significant increase. This reflects a clear trend—high-end catering and ready-to-eat consumption are becoming the dominant forces in the global salmon market.
As high-end consumption in Asian markets such as China and Japan continues to be released, the global supply and demand center of salmon is shifting from the traditional European and American retail to the more premium-priced Asian consumer end.
"Whoever can meet the Asian consumers' demand for 'larger specifications and higher quality' will have the upper hand," a Norwegian exporter summarized.
The three-week steady rise shows that the global salmon market is entering a new cycle dominated by Chinese demand. Given the coexistence of supply peaks and transportation bottlenecks, future price fluctuations are still unavoidable, but the direction is already clear—
China is becoming the pricing center of the global salmon market.