Vietnam risks Norwegian salmon shortage as Middle East air routes close

Thien Nguyen, representative of an imported food store in Tan Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, said on March 3 he was notified by a wholesale supplier that fresh Norwegian salmon could not be delivered as scheduled in the coming days. The product accounts for a significant share of the store’s revenue.

According to the supplier, multiple consignments from Norway are stranded at transit hubs in the Middle East such as Dubai and Doha, or held at departure airports due to flight suspensions. The cancellation of connecting services from the Middle East to several countries, including Vietnam, has disrupted logistics chains, preventing goods from arriving on schedule.

The situation is not isolated. Several fresh salmon retailers in Ho Chi Minh City have announced order cancellations due to supply shortages. With supply tightening abruptly, stores forecast that retail prices of fresh Norwegian salmon may rise in the coming days.

A representative of H2T Food Co Ltd, an importer and distributor based in Ho Chi Minh City, said salmon imported into Vietnam mainly falls into two categories: frozen and fresh.

Frozen salmon is deep frozen, typically at minus 18 degrees Celsius or lower, immediately after processing and transported in refrigerated containers by sea. While transit times are longer, logistics costs are significantly lower than air freight, making it suitable for mass retail and mid range segments.

By contrast, chilled salmon is not frozen but stored at 0 to 4 degrees Celsius in insulated boxes with gel ice or dry ice. Due to strict delivery time requirements, this product depends almost entirely on air transport.

Fresh salmon primarily serves sashimi dishes and high end customers, resulting in notably higher prices compared to frozen products.

Most fresh Norwegian salmon shipped to Vietnam departs from Oslo, transiting through major Middle Eastern aviation hubs before continuing to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Key carriers on the route include Qatar Airways, Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

Logistics for fresh salmon require strict cold chain management, with storage temperatures not exceeding 4 degrees Celsius. Total flight time from Norway to Vietnam typically ranges from 15 to 20 hours to ensure optimal freshness upon arrival.

The wave of flight cancellations and schedule adjustments in the Middle East is therefore creating a domino effect across air freight supply chains, including Norwegian salmon shipments. Some consignments remain stuck at transit points, unable to continue their journeys.

Beyond delivery delays, prolonged transport times increase risks to product quality. Even under stringent cold chain standards, extended transit may reduce freshness and generate additional cold storage costs.

Domestic importers said they are closely monitoring daily flight schedules and considering alternative transit hubs in Europe or East Asia. However, rerouting often entails significantly higher air freight costs amid volatile market conditions.

Sao Sang Viet, a Hanoi based importer of Norwegian salmon, said short term disruptions are likely in Vietnam’s fresh salmon market, particularly affecting restaurants, hotels and sushi chains reliant on daily imported supplies. If flight suspensions persist, retail prices may see slight upward adjustments.

According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, Vietnam was the fastest growing Southeast Asian market for fresh Norwegian salmon in 2025.

Updated data to the end of November 2025 show that exports of fresh Norwegian salmon to Vietnam reached approximately 7,500 tonnes, up 42 per cent year on year, outpacing the regional average growth rate of 31 per cent.

Ashild Nakken, regional director for Southeast Asia at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said consumer trends in Vietnam are shifting clearly towards fresh salmon. Demand is driven largely by young urban families, particularly households with children, who prioritise fresh, traceable and nutritionally rich food products.