![\"Tavish-Scott-with-fish\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tavish-Scott-with-fish.png\")
Scottish salmon has retained its crown as the UK\u2019s top food export, with farmers preparing to tap into the fast-growing Indian market as a new free trade deal comes into force.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
HMRC confirms Scottish salmon remains the UK\u2019s top food export, ahead of cheese and other popular British products such as lamb and beef.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Tavish Scott, chief executive of trade body Salmon Scotland, said: \u201cToday\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Exports of Scotch whisky<\/strong> have been falling in line with a decline in alcohol sales. France remains the industry\u2019s second-most valuable market, though the value of exports fell by 3.6% to \u00a3404m. The volume of whisky exported to France dropped by 14% to 152 million 70cl bottles.<\/p>\n Export volumes to the US fell 9.2% to the equivalent of 120 million 70cl bottles, partly affected by US tariffs.<\/p>\n More encouragingly, exports to India increased by 15% in value to \u00a3286m and by 15% in volume terms to 220 million 70cl bottles.<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n