Scottish salmon was the UK’s greatest meals export in 2022, new HMRC figures have revealed.

Gross sales of the nutritious fish grown in chilly waters off the Highlands and islands reached £578 million within the calendar 12 months, with France main the worldwide demand.

European locations dominated because the sector continued to bounce again from Brexit. Scottish salmon was exported to 54 nations, with North America and Asia reporting sturdy demand.

Abroad Scottish salmon gross sales outperformed all of the UK’s different principal meals exports together with bakery items, chocolate, cheese, cereals and lamb.

Farm-raised salmon instantly employs 2,500 folks in Scotland and an additional 10,000 jobs are depending on the sector.

Contemporary, entire Scottish salmon export gross sales of £578 million have been down simply six per cent on 2021 (£614 million) and an identical charge beneath the file £617 million in 2019.

The EU accounted for nearly 64 per cent of gross sales, with the US and Chinese language markets remaining widespread.

The amount of fish transported abroad fell by 26 per cent, reflecting tight provides globally and extra Scottish salmon being offered within the UK home market – which is valued at round £1.2 billion-a-year.

Throughout 2022, Scottish salmon celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of holding France’s prestigious ‘Label Rouge’ certification on the British embassy in Paris, whereas commerce physique Salmon Scotland was additionally welcomed into the worldwide main physique for cooks, Worldchefs.

A college evaluation additionally discovered that Scottish salmon is much more nutritious than thought – offering greater than 70 per cent of each day vitamin D wants in a single portion.

Tavish Scott, chief government of Salmon Scotland, stated: “Scottish salmon is a rare world success story that we are able to all be immensely pleased with, supporting hundreds of jobs and contributing tons of of tens of millions of kilos to the UK financial system.

“With such stress on public providers through the cost-of-living disaster, the income generated by our farmers has by no means been extra necessary.

“Scottish salmon, grown sustainably within the chilly waters off our west coast, is recognised as the very best on the planet – which is why it’s in such excessive worldwide demand.

“By means of accountable progress of the blue financial system we will help feed the world, rearing some of the nutritious meals that we are able to eat.

“Thanks to everybody concerned from egg to plate for delivering such a profitable 12 months for Scottish salmon.”

Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon stated: “It’s unbelievable to see sturdy gross sales of Scottish salmon in 2022 and I need to congratulate everybody within the sector on one other profitable 12 months.

“Scottish salmon is a world-renowned model and its success is testomony to the standard of Scottish salmon as a product.

“That’s the reason we’re dedicated to our ongoing work to encourage funding in analysis, improvement and innovation in Scotland’s aquaculture sector alongside strong administration measures, so that buyers can proceed to have faith within the sustainability of Scottish seafood.

“Food and drinks is one in all our precedence export sectors and the continued progress in world markets means extra jobs and funding throughout Scotland.

“We’ll proceed to interact with and hearken to the Scottish salmon business to grasp how we are able to enhance export alternatives and take away limitations to commerce.”