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. The Chinese market for Scottish farmed fish increased by 55% in volume.

Despite higher US tariffs, the value of Scottish salmon exports to the US topped £300m – an increase of 34%. By volume, shipments rose by 44% to 35,000 tonnes.

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.”

Whisky sales fall

Global sales of Scotch whisky fell by almost 1% last year to £4.4bn, while the total volume exported was down by 4.3% on 2024.

The US remained the biggest export market in 2025, but sales fell to £933m – a 4% decrease after peaking above £1bn in recent years. Volume fell by 15% following the implementation of the 10% tariff in April.

It is understood there was a significant stock of imports in the US ahead of the tariffs being introduced.

Scotch whisky sales have also been falling in line with a decline in alcohol demand. 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.

More encouragingly, exports to India increased by 15% in value to £286m and by 15% in volume terms to 220 million 70cl bottles.

Despite a 150% tariff on imported spirits, India was the biggest importer of Scotch by volume last year, importing the equivalent of 220m standard 70cl bottles – nearly twice as much as the US.