A major trade delegation is hoping to deliver a further boost to Scottish salmon sales across the pond after American exports leapt to almost £200 million in 2013.
The US is the single largest export market for the delicacy and last year’s £198.5m sales outturn represented growth of almost 30% on the 2012 figure of £154.9m.
The performance was also significantly ahead of the £178m achieved in 2011, the highest sales total in the post-recession years.
Representatives of the salmon farming industry will be in Boston this weekend in the hope of pushing the figure – which represents more than 40% of total estimated global salmon exports of around £450m in 2013 – even higher.
The Boston Seafood Expo is one of the largest trade events globally, with more than 19,000 visitors expected over the three-day conference duration and around 400 key buyers in attendance from the USA’s major retailers and food service companies.
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of Perth-based Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, said the 2013 figures were good but said there was room for significant improvement.
“Quality and Scottish provenance are key to the American market,” Mr Landsburgh said. “Major retail chains and high end restaurants are delighted with the salmon we supply from Scotland.
“The industry has been supported by Scottish Development International to open more market opportunities for Scottish salmon, making the USA our largest export market”.
Jim Gallagher, managing director of Scottish Sea Farms, said 2013 had shown that growth opprotunities were there for the industry to grasp.
“This is a great jump in our performance,” Mr Gallagher said.
“But it should just be the start as we plan to invest in long term sustainable production to supply the demand for salmon and this will mean more jobs on the farms and in the food processing industry of Scotland. We look forward to a strong, sustainable future.”
The chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink said increasing salmon exports was key if the target of exceeding £7 billion of exports from the sector – which cumulatively achieved sales of £5.3 bilion last year – was to be achieved over the next three years.
“The reputation of Scottish salmon as the ‘best farmed salmon in the world’ continues to dominate the world’s most lucrative markets,” CEO James Withers said.
“This is a large boost to the overall status of the Scottish food economy. We have set ambitious growth targets for 2017, aiming to break the £7 billion mark in food and drink exports by that date.
“If achieved, we’ll have almost doubled our exports in a decade, and all the signs are that Scottish salmon will play a driving role.”
Hundreds of millions of pounds have been invested in the salmon farming sector in recent years and it currently provides direct employment for around 2,200 people with thousands more involved in the industry supply chain.