For the third straight year, exports of Scottish salmon to the Far East have hit record levels, according to new figures released by the government.
According to HM Revenue & Customs, 8,675 metric tons (MT) of salmon went to Far East markets in the first 10 months of 2012, which is greater than the entire year of 2011. The value of the fresh, frozen and smoked product exports has increased from GBP 28 million between January and October 2011 to more than GBP 37 million for the same period in 2012.
The data marks the third year in a row the exports to the Far East have increased. Since 2010, the amount of salmon exports to those markets has gone up 1,172 percent, according to the government.
"Scottish salmon is internationally regarded as being amongst the highest quality in the world, and is rapidly becoming the product of choice in the Far East,” said Anne MacColl, chief executive for Scottish Development International. “Growth opportunities in these fast growing markets are significant. We want to encourage companies to take advantage of this, and in doing so, deliver long-term sustainable growth for Scotland’s economy.”
Salmon producers are setting goals to push further export growth to the region later this year.
“Sales have increased more than twelve-fold in three years and our market share still only represents less than one per cent of the total current opportunity in the Far East,” said Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organization. “With a rapid growth of middle classes looking for premium and healthy products, there remains plenty of scope for further market share expansion in this rapidly growing market.”
