Scottish salmon producers are eyeing a massive breakthrough in India, with new analysis showing exports could grow by up to £130 million over the next decade once crippling tariffs vanish later this year.
The game-changing projection comes from Salmon Scotland, the trade body for Britain’s £1 billion salmon farming sector, and rides on the UK-India free trade deal that finally takes effect in 2026.
Tariffs Drop, Opportunity Explodes
Right now Indian buyers pay a punishing 33% import tariff on Scottish salmon. That barrier disappears by December 2026, instantly making Britain’s premium fish competitive in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Salmon Scotland’s modelling lays out three clear scenarios:
- Low growth: £21 million extra exports over 10 years
- Medium growth: £70 million cumulative increase
- High growth: £131 million surge by mid-2030s
Even the cautious low-growth forecast would see India climb into Scotland’s top ten export markets within a decade.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, didn’t hide his excitement. “India now represents the next major opportunity,” he said. “With tariffs gone, we can deliver up to £130 million in new exports, supporting jobs and investment in coastal communities across Scotland.”
From 70 Tonnes to Thousands: The Numbers Tell the Story
Just two years ago Scotland shipped only 70 tonnes of salmon to India, worth roughly £500,000. Those small volumes actually prove the point: demand already exists, and supply chains are in place.
The new projections show India could buy more than 3,500 tonnes annually by the end of the decade under the high-growth scenario. That would push yearly export value past £30 million from India alone.
Scotland already dominates premium Asian markets. Sales to Asia jumped 18% last year, with total international exports hitting £828 million. India, with its 1.45 billion people and booming middle class in cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, is the obvious next target.
Premium Taste Meets Growing Wealth
Indians eat plenty of fish, but most comes from local waters. Yet in five-star hotels and high-end supermarkets of major cities, imported premium seafood is flying off the shelves.
Scottish salmon fits perfectly: globally recognised for strict welfare standards, sustainability credentials and rich flavour. Chefs in Mumbai’s top restaurants already name-check it on menus when they can get hold of it.
Reliable cold-chain logistics will be crucial. Scottish producers have spent years building exactly those networks across Asia. The same planes that fly salmon to Singapore, Dubai and Seoul can easily add Delhi and Mumbai stops.
Government Backing and Industry Readiness
UK Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill welcomed the numbers. “This deal marks the beginning of a pivotal expansion into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies,” she said.
Producers aren’t waiting. Last summer the Indian High Commissioner Vikram K. Doraiswami toured Scottish salmon farms to see production standards first-hand.
Companies have already started registering products with Indian authorities and lining up distribution partners in major cities.
Jobs, Investment and Coastal Communities
Every container of salmon that leaves Scottish ports supports high-skilled jobs in rural areas where employment options are limited.
Processing plants in the Highlands and Islands already employ thousands. Stronger Indian sales mean more shifts, better wages and new investment in remote communities that voted Brexit hoping for exactly these kinds of global opportunities.
One plant manager in Lochaber told me last month: “Asia saved us after Brexit. Now India could secure our future for another generation.”
Scottish salmon remains Britain’s biggest food export success story. France, the United States and China currently buy the most, but India has the potential to crack the top five by 2035.
The numbers are ambitious but grounded. Scotland produces over 200,000 tonnes of salmon annually and still struggles to keep up with global demand. India, with its young population and rising disposable incomes, has appetite to spare.
When those tariffs drop later this year, the first extra containers heading east won’t just carry fish. They’ll carry jobs, growth and fresh hope for coastal Scotland.
What do you think: will Scottish salmon become the next big thing on Indian dinner tables? Drop your thoughts below and use #ScottishSalmonIndia if you’re sharing on social media.
