Norway’s salmon industry raked in 140 billion NOK in revenue in 2022, with profit before tax of 35 billion NOK. That cash strength matters because costs rose 15% to 65 NOK per kg as feed inflation hit production. Even so, farmers kept volume steady enough to produce 1,419,000 tonnes for human consumption, representing 52% of global output.
Key Takeaways
- Norwegian salmon industry revenue reached 140 billion NOK in 2022
- In 2022, escaped salmon from farms numbered 27,000, a 50% reduction from 2021
- Norway exported 1,224,000 tonnes of whole salmon in 2022, valued at 105.4 billion NOK
- In 2022, CMS (Cyclic Mortality Syndrome) caused 15% of total salmon deaths
- In 2022, Norway produced 1,419,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon for human consumption, representing 52% of global production
Norway’s salmon industry delivers steady growth, with strong production and exports sustaining global demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic and Financial Statistics30 stats
01
Norwegian salmon industry revenue reached 140 billion NOK in 2022
02
Profit before tax for Norwegian salmon farmers was 35 billion NOK in 2022
03
Mowi's 2022 revenue from salmon was 32.5 billion EUR, EBITDA 6.2 billion EUR
04
The industry's operational costs rose 15% to 65 NOK/kg in 2022 due to feed inflation
05
Investment in salmon farming equipment reached 20 billion NOK in 2022
06
Average profit margin for Norwegian salmon producers was 32% in 2022
07
Feed costs accounted for 50% of total production costs at 26 NOK/kg in 2022
08
Norwegian salmon sector contributed 1.2% to national GDP in 2022
09
Tax payments from salmon industry totaled 18 billion NOK in 2022 including resource rent tax
10
Lerøy Seafood's salmon division EBITDA was 5.5 billion NOK in 2022
11
SalMar's harvest revenue per kg was 95 NOK in 2022
12
Industry-wide cash flow from operations was 40 billion NOK in 2022
13
Wage costs in salmon farming averaged 12 NOK/kg produced in 2022
14
Export revenues covered 90% of Norway's seafood trade balance in 2022
15
R&D investment in salmon industry was 2.5 billion NOK in 2022
16
Biomass value at sea was estimated at 150 billion NOK end of 2022
17
Fry and smolt production turnover reached 4 billion NOK in 2022
18
Processing industry added 20 billion NOK value to salmon in 2022
19
SalMar profit 4.2 billion NOK in 2022
20
Industry capex on new vessels and pens 15 billion NOK 2022
21
Smolt production profitability 25% margin 2022
22
Feed price index rose 30% to 18 NOK/kg 2022
23
Mowi Norway harvest revenue 20 billion NOK 2022
24
Total equity in salmon companies 100 billion NOK end 2022
25
Regional economic multiplier effect 2.5x direct salmon revenue 2022
26
Insurance costs for farms 2 NOK/kg 2022
27
Export logistics costs 5 NOK/kg average 2022
28
Dividend payouts from salmon firms 20 billion NOK 2022
29
Foreign ownership in salmon stocks 40% 2022
30
Price volatility index for salmon 15% annualized 2022
Interpretation
Economic and Financial Statistics Interpretation
Despite a voracious appetite for expensive fish food, the Norwegian salmon industry swam comfortably in profits in 2022, fattening both its biomass and the national treasury while proving it can weather choppy economic waters with remarkable resilience.
02 · Category
Environmental and Sustainability Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, escaped salmon from farms numbered 27,000, a 50% reduction from 2021
02
Norwegian salmon farms used 1.6 million tonnes of feed in 2022, with 15% marine ingredients
03
CO2 footprint of Norwegian salmon production was 2.5 kg CO2e per kg salmon in 2022
04
98% of Norwegian salmon farms were ASC certified by end of 2022
05
Phosphorus emissions from salmon farms totaled 5,200 tonnes in 2022
06
Sea lice treatment treatments occurred on 40% of farms weekly average in 2022
07
Use of non-medicinal sea lice treatments reached 85% of total in 2022
08
Salmon mortality due to disease was 12.5% in 2022, down from 17% in 2021
09
Plastic waste from salmon farms recycled rate was 92% in 2022
10
Energy use in salmon farming averaged 4.5 kWh/kg salmon produced in 2022
11
Wild salmon genetic impact from escapees affected 2% of rivers in 2022 monitoring
12
Feed waste from farms was reduced to 4% of total fed in 2022
13
70% of salmon feed omega-3 came from alternative sources like algae in 2022
14
Farmed salmon nitrogen discharge was 42,000 tonnes in 2022
15
Antibacterial medicine use was 0.012 kg per tonne biomass in 2022
16
Offshore farming trials produced 5,000 tonnes salmon in exposed sites in 2022
17
Benthic impact scores averaged 'good' on 95% of inspected sites in 2022
18
Closed containment systems farmed 2% of salmon volume in 2022
19
In 2022, 25% of salmon smolt were larger post-smolt >500g to reduce sea time
20
GHG emissions per kg salmon fell 10% to 2.9 kg CO2e from 2019 baseline in 2022
21
Pink salmon feed trial used 20% insect meal 2022
22
Water oxygen levels maintained >80% saturation 95% time 2022
23
Microplastic findings in salmon <0.1 particles/g tissue 2022
24
Renewable energy share in farms 60% hydro/wind 2022
25
Predator net defenses reduced mink damage 70% 2022
26
Soy in feed reduced to 10% sustainable sources 2022
27
Farm footprint area 0.001% of Norwegian fjords 2022
28
Recirculation rate in hatcheries 95% water reuse 2022
29
Biodiversity monitoring showed no negative impact 90% sites 2022
30
LED lighting reduced energy 20% in smolt farms 2022
Interpretation
Environmental and Sustainability Statistics Interpretation
The Norwegian salmon industry, while impressively cleaning up its act with higher recycling, lower escapes, and a smaller carbon fin-print, still faces a school of challenges like sea lice and nutrient emissions, proving that even in the world's most advanced aquaculture, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
03 · Category
Export and Trade Statistics30 stats
01
Norway exported 1,224,000 tonnes of whole salmon in 2022, valued at 105.4 billion NOK
02
France was the top destination for Norwegian salmon in 2022, importing 171,000 tonnes worth 15.7 billion NOK
03
The EU accounted for 67% of Norwegian salmon exports by volume in 2022
04
Polish processors imported 140,000 tonnes of Norwegian salmon in 2022 for re-export
05
US imports of Norwegian salmon reached 42,600 tonnes in 2022, up 12% YoY
06
China imported 64,000 tonnes of Norwegian salmon in 2022 despite trade tensions
07
Fresh salmon exports from Norway hit 497,000 tonnes in 2022, 40% of total volume
08
Salmon fillet exports totaled 440,000 tonnes in 2022, valued at 50 billion NOK
09
Average export price for whole Norwegian salmon was 86 NOK/kg in 2022
10
Exports to the UK fell to 40,000 tonnes in 2022 post-Brexit, down 25%
11
Brazil imported 28,000 tonnes of Norwegian salmon in 2022, up 50% YoY
12
Norwegian salmon export volume to Asia reached 120,000 tonnes in 2022
13
In 2023, salmon exports grew 5% to 1,050,000 tonnes in first 9 months
14
The Netherlands imported 130,000 tonnes of Norwegian salmon as transit in 2022
15
Export value of Norwegian salmon hit record 123 billion NOK in 2022 including by-products
16
Smoked salmon exports from Norway were 25,000 tonnes in 2022
17
Norwegian salmon represented 95% of total seafood exports by value in 2022
18
Exports to Lithuania surged 60% to 35,000 tonnes in 2022
19
In H1 2023, salmon export prices averaged 92 NOK/kg, up 22% YoY
20
In 2023, exports to US hit 25,000 tonnes in H1, up 20%
21
Average fillet export price was 140 NOK/kg in 2022
22
Denmark imported 95,000 tonnes Norwegian salmon for processing 2022
23
Total salmon product exports volume 1.45 million tonnes equivalent 2022
24
Spain took 45,000 tonnes whole salmon in 2022
25
Fresh whole salmon exports peaked at 550,000 tonnes annually 2022
26
By-product exports from salmon reached 300,000 tonnes oil/flour 2022
27
Italy imports grew 15% to 22,000 tonnes salmon 2022
28
Export share to Eastern Europe 10% volume in 2022
29
H2 2022 salmon exports value up 20% to 60 billion NOK
30
Norway's salmon trade surplus with EU was 90 billion NOK 2022
Interpretation
Export and Trade Statistics Interpretation
While the European Union, led by France's formidable appetite, remains the primary and profitable pond for Norwegian salmon, the fish is decisively conquering new waters, from surging demand in the Americas and Asia to clever processing hubs in Poland, proving that this versatile silver export is both a global delicacy and an economic powerhouse.
More related reading
04 · Category
Health, Disease, and Regulatory Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, CMS (Cyclic Mortality Syndrome) caused 15% of total salmon deaths
02
Heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) infected 20% of Norwegian salmon sites in 2022
03
Pancreas disease (PD) vaccine efficacy reached 90% coverage in farms by 2022
04
Total mortality rate in salmon grow-out phase was 14.2% in 2022
05
Sea lice induced mortality estimated at 3% of total biomass loss in 2022
06
Bacterial cold water disease (BCWD) treatments used on 5% of farms in 2022
07
Vaccine usage covered 99.9% of all salmon smolt stocked in 2022
08
New traffic light system for sea lice enforced delousing on 30% more farms in 2022
09
ISA virus detections dropped to 1 case in 2022 from 5 in 2021
10
Antimicrobial resistance monitoring showed no resistance in 98% of tested strains from farms 2022
11
Regulatory biomass cap set at 780 GWT per license in northern Norway from 2022
12
Fish welfare index scored average 4.2/5 across farms in 2022 audits
13
Prohibited substances zero detections in 100% of residue samples in 2022
14
Early sexual maturation affected 4.5% of male salmon in 2022 cohorts
15
Regulatory fines for environmental breaches totaled 50 million NOK in 2022
16
Disease-free certification granted to 85% of production areas in 2022
17
Spent salmon mortality peaked at 25% in Q3 2022 due to warm water
18
New regulations required 100% post-smolt use by 2025, 40% achieved in 2022
19
Viral nervous necrosis (VRN) incidence was 0.1% of sites in 2022
20
Inspection visits to farms totaled 2,500 by authorities in 2022
21
Welfare breaches fined 30 million NOK 2022
22
SAG (Saversjon granulomatose) detected 2 sites 2022
23
Temperature mortality threshold enforced at 19C 2022
24
Lice delousing cleaner fish used 50 million wrasse 2022
25
Residue monitoring 20,000 samples all compliant 2022
26
New IPN vaccine reduced incidence 80% 2022
27
License auction raised 5 billion NOK for new capacity 2022
28
Daily welfare reporting mandatory for all farms since 2022
29
Amoebic gill disease treatments non-chemical 70% 2022
30
Export health certificates issued 50,000 for salmon 2022
Interpretation
Health, Disease, and Regulatory Statistics Interpretation
Even as vaccines push diseases into retreat, Norway's salmon farms remain a high-stakes hospital ward where biology and regulation wage constant battle against relentless natural threats.
05 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, Norway produced 1,419,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon for human consumption, representing 52% of global production
02
The average harvest weight of Norwegian salmon in 2022 was 4.66 kg, up from 4.45 kg in 2021
03
Norwegian salmon farms harvested 1,546,000 tonnes gutted weight equivalent in 2022, including 127,000 tonnes for other uses
04
There were 1,028 active salmon farming licenses in Norway as of 2022, producing across 1,200 sites
05
Salmon biomass in Norwegian sea cages reached a record 1.45 million tonnes at the start of 2023
06
In 2023 Q1, Norway harvested 388,500 tonnes of salmon, a 17% increase year-over-year
07
The number of salmon smolt released to sea in 2022 was 248 million, averaging 140 grams each
08
Norwegian salmon production costs averaged 52.50 NOK/kg in 2022
09
Over 90% of Norwegian salmon is produced in the northern regions of Troms og Finnmark and Nordland
10
In 2022, Mowi ASA, the largest producer, harvested 422,000 tonnes of salmon
11
Lerøy Seafood Group produced 170,000 tonnes of salmon in 2022 from Norway operations
12
SalMar ASA harvested 147,000 tonnes of salmon in Norway in 2022
13
The survival rate from smolt to harvest in Norwegian salmon farms averaged 85% in 2022
14
Norway's salmon farming generated 12,500 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022
15
Feed conversion ratio (FCR) for Norwegian salmon farms improved to 1.15 in 2022 from 1.20 in 2020
16
In 2022, 75% of Norwegian salmon smolt were produced using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)
17
The maximum allowed biomass per license in Norway increased to 780 tonnes in northern areas by 2022
18
Norwegian salmon harvest volume grew by 24% from 2021 to 2022
19
In Q2 2023, Norway's salmon harvest reached 399,100 tonnes, up 34% YoY
20
Post-smolt production in Norway increased to 50 million fish in 2022
21
Average sea lice count per salmon in Norwegian farms was 0.12 in 2022
22
In 2022 Q3, Norway harvested 287,400 tonnes salmon, down 2% YoY
23
Norwegian salmon smolt production hit 280 million in 2023 forecast
24
Average price for 4-6kg salmon was 78 NOK/kg in 2022
25
Troms og Finnmark county produced 45% of Norway's salmon in 2022
26
Grieg Seafood Norway harvested 52,000 tonnes in 2022
27
Norway's salmon farming licenses numbered 1,050 by mid-2023
28
Feed usage per kg salmon improved to 1.12 FCR in top quartile farms 2022
29
RAS smolt facilities capacity reached 100 million smolt annually by 2022
30
Harvests from closed pens totaled 10,000 tonnes in pilot projects 2022
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Norway’s salmon industry has not only conquered the global market with over half of all production, but has done so by relentlessly fattening its fish, refining its feed, and flooding its icy northern waters with record-breaking efficiency.
Reference
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Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Norway Salmon Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/norway-salmon-industry-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Norway Salmon Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/norway-salmon-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Norway Salmon Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/norway-salmon-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level