2022 marks 30 years of Norwegian fish exports to Israel, a mutually lucrative trade relationship.
According to the website of the Norwegian Embassy in Tel Aviv, 70% of the salmon and 30% of all imported fish comes from Norway. In return, Israel is exporting technology, vegetables and fruit to Norway.
Israeli consumption of salmon
With the largest per capita consumption of seafood in the region, Israel plays a meaningful part in the Norwegian salmon trade.
Out of nearly 150 countries, it is the 16th largest consumer of Norwegian salmon.
The first significant salmon imports from Norway arrived in 1992 – just 200 tons. This increased exponentially, to 18,500 tons in 2021. It continues to grow. Today, 80% of all Israelis associate salmon with Norway, and nearly 50% of all Israelis have eaten Norwegian salmon in the last three months.
The salmon market
“The Israeli market is very important when it comes to Norwegian salmon and seafood from Norway and Israel is considered a very important consumer in the region,” stated Mr. Ørjan Kjærvik Olsen, head of the Israeli market at the Norwegian seafood Council. “It is certain that consumption and economic and commercial cooperation between Norway and Israel in the field of fish, seafood and Norwegian salmon will only increase and expand.”
Norway is the second-largest global exporter of seafood after China. In 2021 alone, Norway exported more than 3 million tons of fish. This includes high-quality Norwegian salmon, which itself garnered more than 12b. euros.