Scottish salmon has retained its crown as the UK’s top food export, with farmers preparing to tap into the fast-growing Indian market as a new free trade deal comes into force.
France and the US continuing to dominate demand, accounting for 42% and 40% respectively, while there has been growth of more than 18% in Asian markets, with particularly strong demand in China and Vietnam.
Produced in waters off the north west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland, Scottish salmon was exported to 45 countries in 2025.
HMRC confirms Scottish salmon remains the UK’s top food export, ahead of cheese and other popular British products such as lamb and beef.
The 2025 total is a record volume sold at 111,000 tonnes, up 9%. By volume, Scottish salmon is the single largest export passing through Heathrow Airport, where it is transported on scheduled flights to international destinations to maintain freshness.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of trade body Salmon Scotland, said: “Today’s exports show the surging global appetite for Scottish salmon, a product widely regarded as the finest in the world and increasingly chosen by consumers who care about quality.”
Exports of Scotch whisky have been falling in line with a decline in alcohol sales. France remains the industry’s second-most valuable market, though the value of exports fell by 3.6% to £404m. The volume of whisky exported to France dropped by 14% to 152 million 70cl bottles.
Export volumes to the US fell 9.2% to the equivalent of 120 million 70cl bottles, partly affected by US tariffs.
More encouragingly, exports to India increased by 15% in value to £286m and by 15% in volume terms to 220 million 70cl bottles.
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