UK’s seafood trade tops £6 billion as domestic and global demand strengthens

Despite ongoing global supply pressures and uncertain market conditions, the total trade value of the UK’s seafood industry increased to £6.09 billion in 2025. 

An end of year trade report published recently by Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, shows total trade value increased by 4.5% year-on-year, driven by strong international demand, growing market diversification and continued consumer appetite for seafood products both in the UK and overseas. 

The report shows that the UK’s seafood import value climbed to its highest level on record, reaching £4.1 billion with popular whitefish species such as cod and haddock credited as being amongst the main drivers for the increase.  

Cod prices rose by almost 30%, while haddock prices increased by nearly 50% compared with 2024 following quota reductions and lower catches. 

Import supply increased for eight of the UK’s ten most imported seafood species.  

Whitefish alternatives like Alaska pollock and farmed species such as tilapia and catfish helped to fill gaps left by tighter cod and haddock supply. 

UK seafood export value also enjoyed an increase, rising to £2.0 billion, driven by strong prices for mackerel and scallops alongside rapidly growing octopus exports.  

In one of the year’s standout trends, the value of UK octopus exports increased from just £164,000 to £12.8 million in a single year thanks mainly to demand from France and Spain following a bloom in the south west of England. 

Seafish Trade Analyst Joe Cooper believes the growth figures demonstrate the ability of the UK’s seafood industry to rapidly adapt to new export market opportunities and supply availability. 

Joe added: “One of the clearest trends we’ve seen is the growing importance of international diversification.  

“Strong growth in North America and Asia demonstrates the global demand for high-quality UK seafood products and highlights new opportunities for exporters. 

“At the same time, continued consumer demand in the UK and improved access to emerging overseas markets helped to support longer-term resilience across the seafood supply chain.” 

While export sales to the EU fell, the market share of UK seafood exports going to non-EU markets rose to 37.1%. Growth in salmon export value to the US, Canada, and China, alongside rising mackerel export value to China and Vietnam, highlights the opportunities of global markets for UK seafood businesses. 

Read the full report to explore the trends shaping seafood supply, trade, and consumer demand across the UK here. 

ENDS