Norwegian exhibitors at the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) are eyeing expanded access to the Chinese market following a new bilateral agreement on wild-caught seafood exports.
Norwegian seafood is prized for its rich flavor and high quality. Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, highlighted the significance of the CIIE in helping Norwegian seafood reach more Chinese dining tables as demand continues to grow.
"You can see that for Norway, this is a very big event. It is important to show that we mean serious business in China. You are our No. 1 trading partner in Asia. For seafood, you are now the second largest importer of our Norwegian seafood. An agreement was signed [last week] between Norway and China. So now even more live and fresh produce from wild catch can enter China under a new regulation in this country," Chramer said.
The agreement, signed on Oct 29 by China's General Administration of Customs and the Norwegian Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Fisheries, establishes a framework for Norwegian wild-caught seafood exports to China, according to a statement from the Norwegian Seafood Council, a public company owned by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Fisheries.
The move comes as China ranks as Norway's second-largest seafood market in 2026, reflecting growing demand for Norwegian seafood and the continued importance of the Chinese market to Norwegian exporters.
According to the statement, the protocol will pave the way for all Norwegian wild-caught seafood to be approved for the Chinese market, in accordance with the agreement's requirements and applicable Chinese regulations.
Beyond fish, nutritional products such as fish oil represent another promising category for Norway's exports. A number of well-established Norwegian brands are also using the CIIE as a gateway to the Chinese market.
"We have been in this business for 170 years, and we are basically controlling the whole process from the catch, when it has been brought to the ports, then when the oil is extracted from the liver as well as the whole refinement process," said Pasi Hautakorpi, managing director of the Orkla Health International.
As a returning participant, Hautakorpi sees the CIIE not merely as a trade fair but as a gateway to China.
"And which has been a great opportunity for us to strengthen the partnership that we have with our distributors as well as to learn about the market and the consumers. So it's not just a trade fair for us, it's really being a great gateway to China," he said.
Norway eyes bigger China seafood market after new export deal
