How salmon from Norway’s waters travel to sushi counters worldwide?

Hailing from Kolkata—India’s cultural capital and famously dubbed the 'City of Joy'—I grew up in a place where fish isn’t just food; it’s tradition, emotion, and everyday comfort. Whether it’s the prized Hilsa from Bangladesh’s Padma River, delicately simmered in mustard and poppy seed gravy, or crispy fried pomfret pulled from the Bay of Bengal, fish has always had a place on our plates and in our festivals.

Now living in Mumbai—another coastal city with its own love for seafood—I still carry that fondness. So, earlier this year, when my parents came to visit, I decided to cook them something different. A continental twist, perhaps. The idea? A salmon steak with grilled vegetables, tossed in olive oil and seasoned just right. As they sipped on a glass of African wine I’d brought back from Nairobi, they bit into a juicy, boneless cut of salmon—mildly smoky, fork-tender, and unlike any Indian fish they’d tasted before.

And that’s when it hit me. Salmon isn’t something we catch off the Indian coasts or in our rivers. It travels thousands of kilometres—from the icy waters of the Arctic and Atlantic—to reach our kitchen counters. And at the heart of that journey lies one country: Norway.

It’s not just the taste or texture that makes salmon popular — it’s also among the world’s healthiest proteins. Regular consumption has been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, dementia, Alzheimer’s and even arthritis.

This nutritional profile has made Asia-Pacific the largest and fastest-growing market for salmon, where urban populations are embracing premium, health-forward diets. Norwegian ocean-farmed Atlantic salmon — with roots traceable back to wild stock collected from 40 rivers in the 1970s — has become the benchmark for quality. While the genetics match that of wild salmon, controlled feed and farming environments allow faster growth, later maturation, and improved disease resistance.

Catch of Norway: Bringing fjord-fresh salmon to India
One company bringing Norwegian salmon to Indian households is Catch of Norway. Based in Oslo with an operations hub in Bengaluru, the company runs a vertically integrated cold chain that delivers fresh Atlantic salmon to Indian cities within hours of harvest.

The firm sources directly from farmers and fishermen along Norway’s north Atlantic and Arctic coasts. In India, its local team manages import logistics, marketing, and nationwide distribution.

At the E-Commerce Logistics Summit in 2022, Managing Director Mark Alzawahra highlighted the company’s flexible sourcing and air cargo strategy: “We primarily use Emirates for air transport — they offer multiple connections from Norway to India, which adds resilience to our supply chain. If a delay occurs, we have alternate flights within 5–7 hours.”

Once in Bengaluru, the salmon is routed through cold storage facilities across 10+ cities, reaching both B2B and B2C customers via air, rail, and road.

Global salmon export and market outlook
​​According to Tendata, global exports of fresh or chilled salmon reached $17.7 billion in 2023, with Atlantic or Danube salmon making up $17.5 billion (99% of total sales). Pacific salmon accounted for only $178.8 million, or 1%. Europe led by a wide margin, exporting $15.5 billion worth of salmon (87.8%), followed by Latin America (6.4%), North America (3.9%), Oceania (1.9%), Asia (0.1%), and Africa (0.001%).

The top five exporting countries—Norway, Sweden, Chile, the UK, and Canada—accounted for 86.1% of global sales, with Norway continuing as the dominant supplier. On the other hand, Sweden, Poland, the US, France, and China together accounted for 56.4% of global fresh or chilled salmon imports in 2023, making them the top buyers worldwide.

The global salmon market is poised for strong growth. Mordor Intelligence estimates the market will rise from $23.7 billion in 2025 to $36.28 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.89%, fueled by salmon’s reputation as a premium, protein-rich food. Production is expected to grow by 4.0% in 2025, driven mainly by Norway and Europe. Meanwhile, new technologies such as land-based RAS and offshore cage farming are scaling up commercially, supported by policy incentives in North America and Asia.

In 2024, Europe generated 42.2% of global salmon revenue, but Asia-Pacific is set to outpace global growth, led by a 56% spike in Chinese imports in early 2025.

“We have developed a highly optimised logistics chain that enables fresh salmon to reach markets like Japan in 40 hours, all the way from the fjords of Norway.”
Anna-Maria Kirchner, Finnair Cargo.

As Asian demand rises, Chile marked a new milestone by exporting its first-ever shipment of fresh chilled salmon to Australia in November 2024 via LATAM Cargo. The 220-kg consignment, cleared by both Chilean and Australian authorities, opens a new market of 26 million people for Chilean exporters.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation is expanding its global seafood footprint. In July 2024, it acquired Grieg Seafood’s farms in Norway and Canada for $1 billion through its subsidiary Cermaq, aiming for a projected 280,000-tonne annual output by 2027. The acquisition forms part of Japan’s broader surge in overseas M&A, totaling 2,500 deals worth $140 billion in H1 2024, with over half involving foreign takeovers to secure food and supply chains.

When arctic speed meets Asian demand
Every day, Finnair Cargo transports up to 100,000 kilos of seafood—primarily fresh salmon—through its Helsinki hub, connecting the icy waters of Norway to high-demand markets in Asia. What sets Finnair apart is not just scale, but precision. A large portion of the salmon comes from Norway’s northernmost regions, where fjords and mountains complicate trucking routes. “Helsinki is a faster option than Oslo from Northern Norway,” explained Anna-Maria Kirchner, Head of Global Sales at Finnair Cargo.

Despite relying solely on the belly capacity of its passenger aircraft, Finnair has optimised every step to deliver salmon from Arctic waters to Japan in just 40 hours. The airline’s COOL terminal at Helsinki Airport, with 3,100 m² of refrigerated space, ensures seamless cold-chain integrity and prioritised handling. Kirchner emphasised the advantage of operating at a less congested airport where “outside temperatures are most of the year very favourable to this kind of special cargo.”

Asian cities—Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, and Bangkok—continue to be the primary destinations, especially around festive seasons when salmon demand peaks. By coordinating closely with exporters and freight forwarders, Finnair enables programmes like “Fresh Fish Every Day.” With ongoing innovations in sustainable packaging and cold-chain tracking, the airline is sharpening its edge in the premium perishables space.

“Speed and reliability are at the core of Finnair Cargo’s seafood logistics strategy. We have developed a highly optimised logistics chain that enables fresh salmon to reach markets like Japan in 40 hours, all the way from the fjords of Norway,” Kirchner said.

On the other hand, Alaska Air Cargo has spent over 90 years connecting the state’s tightly regulated wild salmon fisheries—such as Copper River and Bristol Bay—to more than 100 destinations across North America. By maintaining a rigorous cold chain, Alaska Air Cargo ensures that the season’s first salmon, caught near Cordova, arrives within 48 hours at places like Boston’s Legal Sea Foods and Whole Foods Market, marking a celebrated rite of summer for fishing communities and seafood lovers alike. This precise handling and swift delivery underscore their commitment to freshness and quality, bringing one of Alaska’s most prized products to new diners and home cooks across the country.

How salmons move from Scotland to the world?
Heathrow Airport remains one of the most crucial air cargo gateways for Scottish salmon.

“Salmon is the (Heathrow) airport’s top food export by tonnage and one of the UK’s most valuable air cargo commodities, with key markets including the US and China."
James Golding, Heathrow

“Salmon shipments are a vital part of Heathrow’s perishables cargo mix. Salmon is the airport’s top food export by tonnage and one of the UK’s most valuable air cargo commodities, with key markets including the US and China,” said James Golding, Head of Cargo and Airline Partnerships at Heathrow. He added that Heathrow’s expansive route network ensures that premium-quality Scottish salmon reaches global destinations like the United States and China within hours of leaving the Highlands.

Passenger bellyhold continues to dominate the salmon logistics chain at Heathrow, driven by the frequency and global reach of scheduled flights. Golding also mentioned that freighters play a smaller but complementary role.

With increasing demand from Asia and North America, Heathrow’s role as a central seafood gateway is becoming ever more significant—powered by Scotland’s aquaculture and sustained through London’s cargo expertise.

Connecting Europe’s salmon producers to global markets
IAG Cargo has become a critical enabler in the global salmon trade, particularly through its hubs at London Heathrow and Dublin. “Every year we move thousands of tonnes of salmon, with key markets in North America,” said Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at IAG Cargo. In Q1 2025 alone, IAG Cargo recorded an 83% year-on-year increase in salmon volumes, reflecting both surging demand and the strength of its cold chain network.

The airline group sources salmon primarily from Scotland, Scandinavia, and the Faroe Islands—regions known for their high-quality seafood production. “We are proud to support their growth by connecting them to global markets,” Garcia Cervera noted. He highlighted IAG Cargo’s Constant Fresh product as a key differentiator in ensuring reliable and swift movement of perishables across long-haul routes.

Strategically located hubs and daily frequencies allow for seamless connections, particularly to North America and Asia. IAG Cargo is also making long-term investments to strengthen its perishables capabilities. “Most recently, we completed a €1.5 million expansion of our dedicated perishables facility at our Madrid hub,” Garcia Cervera added, underscoring the company’s continued focus on infrastructure and digital enhancements.

“Every year we move thousands of tonnes of salmon, with key markets in North America.”

Camilo Garcia Cervera, IAG Cargo

With its specialised handling, robust connectivity, and growing infrastructure, IAG Cargo remains a trusted logistics partner for Europe’s premium seafood exporters.

Asia’s fresh gateway for global salmon trade
As a key player in the movement of premium perishables across the Asia-Pacific, Cathay Cargo has carved a specialised niche in salmon logistics, with a focus on delivering chilled—not frozen—salmon to some of the region’s most demanding markets. Leveraging its IATA CEIV Fresh-certified Cathay Fresh service, the airline ensures end-to-end cold chain integrity from source to shelf.

Weekly salmon volumes moved by Cathay Cargo are significant: Chile contributes around 150–200 tonnes, Tasmania (Australia) sends 130–160 tonnes during peak season, and According to the Cathay spokesperson, Norway exports 50–70 tonnes monthly via the Hong Kong-based airline’s network. With most of the Chilean salmon reaching Shanghai—accounting for 85% of Cathay’s salmon volumes—followed by strong demand from Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, Seoul, Mumbai, and Hanoi.

“Cathay’s strength lies in our ability to combine wide-body belly capacity with freighter operations across strategic origin points and key Asian markets,” the Cathay Cargo spokesperson noted. This hybrid strategy allows for agile scaling during seasonal peaks and ensures timely delivery of high-value perishables.

At its Hong Kong hub, Cathay has invested in multi-temperature storage, cool-room infrastructure, and bookable cool dollies to limit exposure during tarmac handling. The airline also offers six different cool container options, covering a temperature range from –80°C to +40°C—one of the broadest offerings in Asia.

With technology at its core, Cathay Fresh integrates Ultra Track and IATA ONE Record APIs to give customers real-time visibility. These innovations are monitored by a 24/7 Operations Control Centre (OCC), ensuring proactive intervention if needed.

As demand from Chinese Mainland and broader Asia-Pacific continues to rise, Cathay is expanding its intermodal reach through its new cargo terminal in Dongguan and bonded sea-air connections—positioning itself as a premier gateway for premium perishables, especially salmon, into Asia’s fastest-growing consumer markets.

Behind the scenes of salmon logistics
While fresh salmon is crucial for making sushi and some of the Asian dishes, moving fresh Atlantic salmon from the fjords of Norway to distant global markets is a high-stakes race against time, temperature, and complexity. As global demand for Norwegian salmon rises, so do the challenges of preserving its freshness from catch to customer.

At the heart of the logistics operation lies a relentless focus on temperature control. Finnair Cargo’s Kirchner explained that the most critical aspect of transporting salmon is ensuring it remains within a strict +2°C to +8°C temperature range throughout the journey. “Even small deviations during long-haul shipments can impact the quality of the product,” she said.

One of the key pain points, Kirchner noted, is minimising tarmac time, especially during the transition from warehouse to aircraft. “Our COOL terminal is located adjacent to the long-haul terminal in Helsinki, which reduces tarmac time significantly. In fact, if needed, we can move the cargo to the aircraft side just 30 minutes before departure,” she added. The complexity is heightened when shipments begin in Northern Norway, requiring efficient multimodal transitions from road to air across long distances.

Beyond temperature, the speed of movement is just as vital. At IAG Cargo, Cervera emphasised: “As a highly perishable product, even small fluctuations in handling time or temperature can impact both quality and value.” IAG Cargo’s Constant Fresh service is built specifically to safeguard seafood in transit. “From acceptance through to final delivery, every touchpoint in the journey supports cold chain integrity,” Cervera said.

The company has also backed up its perishables promise with significant investment. “Most recently, we completed a €1.5 million expansion of our dedicated perishables facility at our Madrid hub,” he noted, adding that the 1,340 m² expansion increased capacity by 45%, a move directly aimed at managing growing seafood volumes.

At London Heathrow, the challenge takes a different shape: handling sheer volume and seasonal spikes. “The main challenges include ensuring consistent cold-chain conditions during high throughput and managing peak-time truck flows,” said Golding of Heathrow. “Seasonal spikes – particularly around holidays – require close collaboration between exporters, handlers, and regulatory agencies to maintain product quality and ensure efficiency,” added Golding.

Unlike single-terminal carriers, Heathrow relies on a network of independent specialist cargo handlers, many of whom operate temperature-controlled zones tailored for perishables. “Our airport’s ecosystem is designed to support time-critical products like fresh salmon through coordinated cold-chain logistics and fast landside-airside transfers,” Golding added.

Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo approaches the challenge with a combination of infrastructure and certification. With dedicated cold-chain facilities and bookable cool dollies at its Hong Kong International Airport hub, Cathay ensures minimal ambient exposure during transfers. “From priority handling on the tarmac to swift ground logistics, we ensure that perishable goods are well taken care of throughout their journey,” the airline said.

The Cathay spokesperson explained, “Handling large volumes of fresh salmon requires coordinating intricate logistics—truck transfers, palletisation, and interline handoffs across multiple countries and carriers. Each touchpoint demands precision to avoid delays and preserve freshness.”

Regulatory compliance is another invisible layer of pressure. “Navigating an evolving landscape of food safety certifications, veterinary documentation, and country-specific import/export requirements demands deep expertise and close coordination,” Cathay noted.

From the snowy roads of Norway to cargo hubs in Europe and Asia, the movement of salmon is a delicate dance of logistics precision. Whether it’s about optimising tarmac timing, expanding cold storage, managing peak truck flows, or navigating regulatory terrain, logistics leaders agree on one thing: delivering fresh salmon is a challenge that leaves no room for error.