Seafood in Sweden: the sector and its suppliers

A small fleet

The Swedish fishing fleet had 761 vessels in 2024. Fishing employed 579 people in full-time equivalents in 2023, 48% of them on vessels under 12 metres and 30% on vessels of 12 to 24 metres. There are 154 registered fishing ports.

Landings are almost entirely fresh: in 2023, 96% was fresh whole or gutted fish and 2% frozen. Of landings, 38% went to human consumption, 60% to industrial use and 2% to animal feed.

Fish auctions and first sales

In 2025, first sales totalled 84,262 tonnes and €82 million. Two auctions on the west coast are:

• Göteborg: 2,600 tonnes and €26 million (coldwater shrimp, Norway lobster, haddock),
• Smögen: 642 tonnes and €7 million (Norway lobster, coldwater shrimp, lobster).

Together they account for 4% of volume but 39% of value. Stockholm, on the east coast, also has a fish auction.

By value, landings in 2023 were led by Norway lobster (€15.2 million, 33%), herring (€11.0 million, 24%) and coldwater shrimp (€9.3 million, 20%).

Counties listed in the SeaMatch directory in Sweden: Blekinge län, Dalarnas län, Gävleborgs län, Hallands län, Jämtlands län, Jönköpings län, Kalmar län, Kronobergs län, Norrbottens län, Östergötlands län, Skåne län, Södermanlands län, Stockholms län, Uppsala län, Värmlands län, Västerbottens län, Västernorrlands län, Västra Götalands län.

Aquaculture: rainbow trout, Arctic char and mussels

Swedish aquaculture produced 11,000 tonnes in 2023. By value, rainbow trout was the main species in 2022 (€36 million, 76%), followed by mussels (Mytilus, €2 million, 5%). According to Statistics Sweden, rainbow trout accounted for 7,700 tonnes, or 85% of food fish production, in 2024. Arctic char and eel are other common species.

Processing

The fish processing industry employed 1,587 people in 2023. In 2024, its 190 companies had a net turnover of about €582 million. The main products are prepared or preserved herring and salmon.

What buyers look for

• Fresh and frozen fish: herring, salmon, cod, haddock, rainbow trout, Arctic char.
• Shellfish: Norway lobster, coldwater shrimp, lobster, blue mussels.
• Processed products: prepared herring, salmon, Kalix vendace roe (protected designation of origin since 2010).

Sweden in international trade

In 2024, salmon (€4.5 billion, 78%), cod (€349 million), shrimp (€173 million), trout (€73 million) and coalfish (€69 million) were the main products imported; 87% of import value came from Norway. Exports are led by salmon (€4.3 billion, 85%), cod (€275 million), herring (€94 million) and trout (€88 million), with Poland, France, Spain and Italy as the main destinations (EUMOFA, 2024).

Apparent consumption is estimated at 10 kg live weight per person per year in 2023 (RISE, as reported by EUMOFA).

How to find seafood suppliers, buyers and products in Sweden

SeaMatch lists 159 Swedish companies from public sources. SeaMatch serves suppliers, buyers, importers and distributors looking for seafood products. The public directory shows each company's name and city. With a free account, you can filter companies by region. With a free account, you can contact the companies registered on SeaMatch.

Frequently asked questions