Glasgow Prestwick Airport has marked a major milestone in its push to become Scotland’s go‑to seafood gateway, with 144 tonnes of premium Scottish salmon exported to China since the start of February under a new partnership with salmon giant Mowi. The consignments represent the first commercial volumes to move through the airport’s dedicated seafood export operation, which has been developed to give producers in the west of Scotland a faster, fresher and more cost‑effective route into high‑value Asian markets.
The new trade is underpinned by significant investment in cold‑chain infrastructure at Prestwick, including high‑volume screening equipment, temperature‑controlled handling areas and additional chilled storage, designed to protect product quality from lorry to aircraft hold. Airport bosses say the set‑up can cut farm‑to‑flight times and extend shelf life compared with routing via English hubs, a selling point for Chinese buyers paying a premium for ultra‑fresh whole fish and sashimi‑grade portions.
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Mowi, the world’s largest salmon producer, is using Prestwick as an additional export corridor alongside existing routes, citing both the improved cool‑chain and growing frequency of all‑cargo services linking the airport with key Chinese cities. An airport spokesperson said: “Their trust in Prestwick as a reliable, efficient export gateway is a huge endorsement of our cool chain infrastructure, operational capability and long-term vision for growth in international cargo. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to continuing to support Mowi Scotland and Scotland’s seafood sector with fast, secure and globally connected logistics solutions.”
The launch comes against a backdrop of strong demand for Scottish salmon in China, which has rapidly climbed the rankings to become one of the industry’s most important overseas markets. Recent trade figures show exports to China rising sharply in both volume and value, underpinned by growing appetite among consumers for traceable, high‑end seafood for fine‑dining and celebratory occasions such as Lunar New Year.
Industry leaders believe Prestwick’s early‑year performance is a sign of things to come, both for salmon and for Scotland’s wider food and drink portfolio. As the airport continues to court additional cargo carriers and build out its logistics offer, there is an expectation that whisky, shellfish and other high‑value products will increasingly follow salmon onto direct flights to China, supporting jobs and investment across coastal communities and the wider supply chain.
