A report from UK trade body Seafish has found that despite “ongoing global pressures”, the UK seafood industry’s trade value increased to £6.09 billion in 2025.
The report, titled UK Seafood Trade 2025: End of Year Report, showed that 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. This was despite global pressures and “uncertain” market conditions.
Seafish found that the UK’s seafood import value increased 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.
Export value also on the rise
UK seafood export value also increased to £2 billion, which Seafish said was driven by strong prices for mackerel and scallops alongside “rapidly growing” octopus exports.
UK octopus export value increased from £164,000 to £12.8 million in a year. This was attributed to demand from France and Spain following a bloom off the southwest of England.
Seafish trade analyst Joe Cooper said he believes the growth figures demonstrate the ability of the UK’s seafood industry to “rapidly adapt to new export market opportunities” and supply availability.
Cooper said: “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, was said to highlight the opportunities of global markets for UK seafood businesses.
