Numbers are “impressive”, says the NSC director in Portugal. Christmas continues to be the peak consumption period, but imports of Norwegian cod are expected to slow in 2026.
Each Portuguese person eats, on average, 16 kilograms (kg) of cod per year, and Christmas remains the strongest period, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), which praised the country’s love for this fish.
“In Portugal, it is impressive. It’s 16 kg of cod, [per capita] per year,” highlighted the NSC director in Portugal, Gudfina Traustadottir, speaking to journalists in Ålesund, Norway.
Christmas continues to be the strongest period for cod consumption, and the NSC expects this year will be no exception.
Even so, in 2025, exports of dried salted cod from Norway to Portugal fell compared to the previous year.
A further decline is expected this year, following recommendations from the scientific committee that monitors cod stocks, made up of members from Norway and Russia, which fish in the same sea.
The NSC will invest between €700,000 and €800,000 in Portugal this year, in line with last year’s figure. This budget includes, for example, promotional activities and advertising campaigns.
The organisation works in partnership with the Norwegian industry to increase the value of seafood products, consolidate markets, and enter new geographies.
The NSC is a state-owned company headquartered in Tromsø, under the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, with representation in Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, China and the United States.
Norwegian cod exports to Portugal fall to 35,000 tonnes in 2025
Exports of dried salted cod from Norway to Portugal declined by around 1% last year, reaching 35,000 tonnes — a figure expected to fall again in 2026 due to fishing quotas, the NSC indicated.
“We are exporting from Norway to Portugal 35,000 tonnes, it decreased a little, around 1%” compared to 2024, said Gudfina Traustadottir.
For 2026, estimates point to a further cut in exports, as less fish will be available on the market, following scientific recommendations from the committee formed by Russia and Norway.
According to NSC data, in 2023, exports of salted and dried cod from Norway to Portugal reached 17,915 tonnes, a 15% drop compared to the previous year. Exports of salted cod stood at 17,836 tonnes, down 4%, with prices growing 24%, while exports of frozen cod fell 7% to 2,877 tonnes, with their value also rising 24%. Exports of fresh/chilled cod totalled 922 tonnes, a 63% decrease, though prices grew 30%.
Norwegian Seafood Council to invest up to €800,000 in Portugal
The Norwegian Seafood Council will invest up to around €800,000 in Portugal this year, despite the production decline caused by quota cuts.
“We are investing between €700,000 and €800,000 in Portugal,” announced NSC director general Gudfina Traustadottir, speaking to journalists in Ålesund, Norway.
This amount is in line with 2025 spending, even in the face of a production cut due to lower quotas, because the NSC believes demand will recover once the fish can “return to the table.”
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“The quantity fished is determined by a scientific committee, made up of Russia and Norway, which fish in the same sea. [This group] assesses the state of cod stocks and estimates what can be caught,” she explained.
The decline in cod availability at sea is largely attributed to climate change. To address this impact, cod aquaculture is already a reality in Norway and is also reaching Portugal, particularly for fresh consumption.
Portugal and Norway are celebrating 120 years of diplomatic relations, underpinned by cod, but with eyes set on the future.
“We often say our motto is ‘In cod we trust’. We have been showing that together we can work in areas such as the blue economy, strengthening the competitiveness of Portuguese companies, and ensuring that cod is increasingly present and part of Portugal’s culture,” said Portugal’s ambassador to Norway, Pedro Pessoa e Costa.
The diplomat believes this partnership can always be strengthened, noting that both countries benefit from sharing experiences and knowledge.
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Norway’s ambassador to Portugal, Hanne Brusletto, stressed that the two countries “have a lot in common,” starting with “a fantastic history on the oceans and a passion for cod.”
“I am very happy to see that the Portuguese love Norwegian cod. I am also envious because you have all the cod recipes. The Portuguese have taught me a lot about cod, about bacalhau à Brás and the pastéis, but I still have many recipes to learn,” she said.
