Vietnam imported over 72,000 metric tons of seafood from Norway last year, valued at US$252 million, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC). 

This represents a 16-percent increase compared to the previous year, with Norwegian salmon imports alone exceeding 24,000 metric tons.

Åshild Nakken, director of Southeast Asia at NSC, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that Vietnam is now the fifth-fastest growing market for Norwegian seafood, following China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

In addition to salmon, Vietnamese consumers also enjoy king crab, brown crab, and mackerel from Norway.

“The strong growth of Norwegian seafood exports to Vietnam highlights the country's vibrant culinary scene and rising demand for premium, sustainably sourced seafood,” Nakken said.

To expand supply channels, NSC partnered with local businesses in Vietnam in 2024, ensuring Norwegian seafood is more widely available in retail and food service sectors.

On Tuesday, the NSC participated in the Food & Hospitality Expo in Hanoi, facilitating direct connections between Norwegian seafood producers and Vietnamese businesses.

Speaking at the three-day event, Hilde Solbakken, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, highlighted growing bilateral cooperation in the seafood industry. 

“Vietnam is expanding offshore aquaculture, and Norway has extensive experience in this field. We are in discussions with Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to explore ways we can share expertise and support the sustainable development of Vietnam’s seafood industry,” the Norwegian diplomat said.

The ambassador also revealed that while Vietnamese consumers favor Norwegian salmon, Norwegians are equally fond of Vietnamese shrimp.

Norway is a major export market for Vietnamese shrimp products. 

Additionally, Vietnamese coffee is a popular agricultural product in Norway, one of the world’s largest coffee-consuming nations.

NSC, a public company owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, collaborates with the Norwegian fishing and aquaculture industry to identify and develop markets for Norwegian seafood products, representing the entire Norwegian seafood sector and its exporters.

In 2025, NSC will launch its Norwegian Salmon Academy training courses in major Vietnamese cities like Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi, aimed at enhancing the skills of chefs and seafood industry professionals.

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