Scotland boosts seafood exports with Prestwick–China service
New facilities at Prestwick cut farm-to-flight time, giving salmon producers 18 extra hours of shelf life;
Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) has launched a new seafood export service from Scotland to China, backed by a one million pound investment in equipment and a dedicated cool chain team. The facility aims to strengthen Scotland’s seafood exports and meet growing demand in Asia.
The airport has introduced high-volume metal detectors, temperature tracking systems and four chillers with an 87-tonne capacity. These facilities will support seafood exports not only to China but also to mainland Europe.
Ian Forgie, Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: “The value of Scottish salmon exports reached a record GBP844 million in 2024, with the Chinese market growing by 60% in value and 107% in volume. Our in-house expertise coupled with our significant investment makes PIK a standout hub for the Scottish seafood industry and we are prepared to meet growing demand.”
The airport’s location close to fish farms offers producers key benefits such as reduced farm-to-flight transit times, an 18-hour shelf life extension, lower trucking costs and reduced CO2 emissions.
Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “The new dedicated service from Glasgow Prestwick Airport strengthens our ability to meet growing demand in China and across Asia, while supporting jobs and communities in Scotland’s coastal and rural areas. This investment is a welcome boost to our sector and will support Scotland’s already exemplary export performance.”
China was the third-largest market for Scottish salmon in 2024, with exports valued at GBP76 million and just over 8,175 tonnes shipped. This marked a 60% rise in value compared to the previous year.
Forgie described the new cool chain solution at PIK as a “game-changer” for producers. He added that the facilities and eight weekly flights to Asia make exporting from Prestwick more attractive than relying on London airports.
The development has also drawn political attention. Tavish Scott’s visit followed one by Central Ayrshire MP Alan Gemmell, who praised the airport’s growth in both cargo volumes and local employment this year.