Scottish salmon exports reached a record value of £346m in the first half of 2017, an increase of 70% on the same period last year. Fresh salmon worth £190m was sold in the second period of this year alone.
That was a near 10-tonne increase on the 19,150 tonnes of exports in the corresponding period of 2016. The United States remains the export largest market, while China (£44m) is the most significant Asian importer.
Consumer demand for the fish has continued to rise which has pushed prices to record levels.
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO), welcomed the latest export figures, and he pointed to the development of the Far East marketplace as being a major factor.
Mr Landsburgh said: “The fact that annual Chinese exports are now worth around £90m from zero six or seven years ago indicates that this has been worth the effort.