China gets a taste for Scots salmon

CHINA has become the largest importer of Scottish salmon in the Far East in the space of just six months, new data has shown, boosting the export value to the region by eightfold.

The figures, released by HM Revenue and Customs, show that the value of salmon exports to Far East markets, which include China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, increased from £2.1 million between January and June 2010 to more than £16m for the same period in 2011.

Trading of the fish with China began this year after the Scottish and Chinese governments reached an agreement in January to allow seafood exports directly from Scotland.

Up until June this year, 2,347 tonnes of salmon were exported to the most populous country in the world, while total salmon exports for all of the Far Eastern markets during the same period were 3,036 tonnes.

Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, said: “From a standing start earlier this year China has become the fifth largest export destination for Scottish salmon.

“With a significant number of discerning customers who appreciate premium quality salmon, China is a welcome addition to the other 70 global markets in which our sector operates. The value of exports to the whole of the Far East region has increased eightfold in 12 months.”

Scottish producers now make up almost a quarter of the Atlantic salmon market after just six months of trading in China.

The Scottish Government’s Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead, described the figures as a “huge vote of confidence” for Scottish food exports: “If this is what can be achieved in the first six months, then the sky could be the limit for exports to China.

“The high quality of Scottish salmon is perfect for the increasing popularity of sashimi and sushi and the vast majority of our salmon is exported fresh to meet the growing appetite for Japanese-style premium raw fish in China.”