According to statistical data from the Customs Department of Vietnam, in the first 7 months of 2026, Vietnam exported approximately 1.2 thousand tons of seafood to the Norwegian market, valued at 9.3 million USD, down 14.5% in volume but up 17.2% in value compared to the same period in 2025.

Within this, frozen shrimp continued to serve as the key export commodity, reaching 735.3 tons valued at 5.4 million USD, accounting for 58.9% of total volume and 58.36% of Vietnam's total seafood export value to Norway. Compared to the same period last year, frozen shrimp exports grew by 22% in volume and 16.6% in value.

Notably, although Norway possesses strengths in cold-water seafood harvesting and aquaculture, this market still exhibits strong demand for warm-water shrimp such as whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp. This is considered substantial headroom for Vietnamese seafood to continue expanding market share.

Over the 7 months, several other commodities also recorded high growth rates. Frozen crab exports increased by 56% in volume and 61.9% in value; frozen pangasius increased by 67.2% and 50.5%, respectively; frozen tuna rose by 114.5% in volume and 693.5% in value; frozen catfish surged by 604.8% in volume and 552.6% in value.

The decline in export volume alongside an increase in value indicates that the average price of many seafood commodities exported to Norway has improved. The average price of frozen cod reached 13.86 USD/kg, up 107.4%; frozen crab reached 13.27 USD/kg, up 3.8%; frozen squid reached 5.92 USD/kg, up 8.6%; and frozen short mackerel reached 4.36 USD/kg, up 41.3% compared to the same period in 2025.

In the opposite direction, according to data from the first 6 months of this year, Norway imported 82.9 thousand tons of seafood valued at 399.23 million USD, down 36% in volume but up 12.4% in value year-on-year. Norway increased seafood imports from multiple markets including Greenland, Iceland, China, Canada, Thailand, the Netherlands, and France.

Notably, seafood imports from Vietnam rose by 2.6% in volume and 3.5% in value. Vietnam is currently the 7th largest seafood supplier to Norway, accounting for 2.67% of volume and 5.04% of value in the country's total seafood imports.

Norway has an annual per capita seafood consumption of about 18 kg. Despite a population of only around 5.6 million people, it remains a high-value, strategic market in Northern Europe. Consumers are increasingly concerned with product origin and sustainability; more than 80% prioritize certified sustainable seafood.

In this context, Vietnamese enterprises need to focus on international standards such as ASC for farmed seafood and MSC for wild-caught seafood, while simultaneously improving origin traceability and meeting environmental requirements.

As one of the world's leading seafood exporting nations, Norway maintains an import demand of around 450–500 million USD in seafood annually to supplement species uncommon in Northern European waters and supply raw materials for restaurant and supermarket systems.

With high consumer demand and an increasing trend in import value, the Norwegian market is assessed to offer ample headroom for Vietnamese seafood. In particular, food stockpiling demand for Christmas and New Year typically surges in late Q3 and Q4, creating additional opportunities for commodities such as Vietnamese frozen shrimp in the closing months of the year.

Source: Tap chi Thuy san Viet Nam