Scottish salmon production rose by 3% in 2025, according to new figures from the Scottish Government’s annual fish farm production survey, as producers position themselves to meet growing demand in overseas markets including China.

Production increased by 5,836 tonnes from 192,000 tonnes in 2024 to 197,836 tonnes in 2025. The number of staff directly employed in seawater salmon production rose by 4% from 1,362 to 1,410.

The number of smolts produced increased by 8.9 million (20%) to 53.5 million in 2025 – an indication of continued investment in production capacity in the years ahead.

The production increase comes as Chinese demand for salmon has emerged as a significant driver of the global market. Mowi, Scotland’s largest salmon producer, last month reported that demand growth is “strongest in Asia, led by China”.

Salmon has become an increasingly popular protein in China, where rising incomes, health-conscious consumption and growing familiarity with Western cuisine have driven demand for imported seafood. Scotland’s reputation for high-quality, cold-water salmon positions it well to capture a share of that growth.

The survey also showed an improvement in survival-to-harvest rates for the 2023 Atlantic salmon year class, which rose to 68.8% from 61.8% for the 2022 year class.

Salmon Scotland, the trade body for the sector, noted that its own monthly survival figures are more current, averaging 98.3% in 2025 and 99.05% in the first seven months of 2026.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “These figures are another vote of confidence in Scottish salmon, with production up by three per cent as our farmers respond to strong demand at home and growing interest in markets around the world.

“Employment is also up again, underlining the importance of salmon farming to Scotland’s rural and coastal communities. These are high-quality, well-paid jobs which help sustain local economies and enable communities to thrive.”

He added: “Our producers are continuing to invest for the future, helping ensure Scotland can meet growing demand at home and overseas while supporting the communities where salmon farming matters most.”