Seafood export growth far exceeded the overall UK trade export growth (4.9%), with salmon products performing exceptionally strongly in the Chinese, American, and European markets, with exports surging 42% to £947 million. The average survival rate of British salmon farms rose to 82.3%, reaching the highest level since 2020.
Distant water fish, including mackerel and herring, also showed strong performance, with export volumes increasing by 19%. Despite ongoing trade friction with the EU after Brexit, the EU remains the largest export destination, accounting for 67% of the market.
Last year, exports of shrimp, crabs, shellfish, squid, and lobster to the EU dropped sharply, with overall shellfish exports declining 5.1% to £467.6 million, though sales increased in Asian markets.
On the import side, UK seafood imports grew 1.6% to £3.8 billion last year, with import volumes increasing 4.1% to 1.16 million tons, as British consumption began to recover after years of stagnation.
Tuna imports grew 15% to 223,000 tons, primarily from Ecuador. China exported tuna to the UK for the first time, capturing 4% market share. White fish imports saw almost no growth, though white fish remains the largest import category.
Warm water shrimp imports also showed strong growth, with significant supply increases from Vietnam, Ecuador, and Honduras, while Indian shrimp sales declined.
Post-Brexit trade barriers with the EU remain a major obstacle. The UK Food and Drink Federation reported that food and beverage exports to the EU averaged 19.8% lower in 2020-2024 compared to 2015-2019. Exporters face increasing risks of goods being rejected or partially destroyed during inspections and inconsistent interpretations of import requirements at border checkpoints.
The UK government has reached a new sanitary agreement with the EU to mitigate some trade barriers. The UK's joining of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2024 also offers new market opportunities.
The new US tariff policy poses a risk to exports in 2025. UK-US tariffs stand at 10%, Norwegian exporters face 15