HÀ NỘI — Norway has retained its position as Việt Nam’s largest supplier of Atlantic salmon, as Vietnamese consumers increasingly pay attention to product origin and quality.

At an event launching a Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) promotional campaign in HCM City on Thursday, the NSC said Norwegian salmon is gaining a stronger presence in Việt Nam amid growing consumer interest in traceability and quality.

According to the NSC, Norway supplied Việt Nam with 22,407 tonnes of Atlantic salmon, including 6,828 tonnes of fresh salmon. Chile ranked second with 13,175 tonnes, followed by the UK with 4,349 tonnes, Australia with 2,331 tonnes, New Zealand with 54 tonnes and the Faroe Islands with 78 tonnes. 

Norway has maintained its leading position despite a 10 per cent tariff on whole salmon and 15 per cent on salmon fillets.

The latest NSC survey found that 52 per cent of Vietnamese respondents preferred Norwegian salmon.

Nakken said Vietnamese families and diners are consuming more salmon, noting that product origin is an increasingly important factor in purchasing decisions. 

Norwegian salmon is subject to strict food safety and quality controls throughout the supply chain, with temperature-controlled processing, transport and distribution to preserve freshness and texture.

The campaign, described by the NSC as its largest in Việt Nam this year, is supported by retailers and restaurants including Lotte Mart, Mena Gourmet, Mega Market, Morico, Botejyu and Sushi BON. — BIZHUB