Value of exported mackerel rises by nearly 800 Million DKK

Ólavur Í Geil
Jan 20
2 min read

The export value of Faroese mackerel has increased by almost 800 million DKK over the past 12‑month period, according to newly published figures from Hagstova Føroya.

In total, the Faroe Islands exported goods worth 13.4 billion DKK from December 2024 to November 2025 — an increase of 926 million DKK compared with the previous period. Fish products accounted for the majority of this growth, rising by nearly 980 million DKK, or just over 8%.

Strong growth in key fish species

Exports increased for several major fish species, including cod, haddock, saithe, and especially mackerel. The export value of mackerel rose by more than 790 million DKK, a jump of 65.6%. Export volume also grew by around 19%, reflecting a significant rise in the price per kilo — up nearly 39% year‑on‑year.

Larger market shifts

While many fish species saw higher export values, salmon exports moved in the opposite direction. Salmon export value fell by 40 million DKK, a decline of 0.7%, despite export volumes increasing by 17.1%. The decline is attributed to falling prices, with the per‑kilo value dropping by 15%.

Exports by destination

The strongest growth in fish exports was to the EU and “Asia – primarily China”, with exports to the EU rising by over 1 billion DKK. Shipments to the Netherlands and Poland grew by 291 million DKK and 272 million DKK, respectively. In contrast, exports to “Other Europe” fell by more than 284 million DKK, including a 137 million DKK decrease in exports to the UK.

Exports to the Middle East increased by 83.3 million DKK, driven mainly by growth in the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

Six countries now import Faroese fish products valued at more than 1 billion DKK annually: the USA, Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, and the Netherlands.