A Boeing 777F all-cargo aircraft carrying nearly 100 metric tons of Norwegian chilled salmon landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 9:12 am August 20.
This marked the launch of a new all-cargo route by China Southern Air Logistics (CSAL), a subsidiary of China Southern Air Holding Company Limited, from China to Norway, linking the Chinese city of Shanghai with Oslo, Norway, via Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
A Boeing 777F all-cargo aircraft, carrying nearly 100 metric tons of Norwegian chilled salmon, landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 9:12 am August 20. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Norway is the world’s largest producer of salmon, accounting for over 50 percent of global output. In recent years, China’s demand for Norwegian salmon has continued to grow. According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, Norway exported 178,000 tons of seafood to China in 2025, registering a record-high export value of 12.3 billion Norwegian kroner ($1.32 billion). This placed China for the first time among Norway’s top three global seafood export markets.
The new route is flown twice per week by Boeing 777F all-cargo aircraft. The salmon on the maiden flight will be delivered to wholesale markets in Shanghai after completing customs clearance, giving Chinese consumers access to high-quality Nordic ingredients at more affordable prices. Initially, the route is expected to supply 200 tons of Norwegian salmon to the Chinese market per week.
Norwegian salmon is well preserved. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
To guarantee the quality of high-end fresh food during transportation, CSAL’s cold chain branch has customized a full-process solution for Norwegian salmon imports. The aircraft´s cabin can maintain a stable temperature environment to fully preserve the quality of fish. In addition, the aircraft’s cold chain system seamlessly aligns with the systems on the ground for airport warehousing, customs clearance and cargo distribution. This protects the product’s quality until it safely reaches Chinese consumers’ dining tables.
Before the newly launched route, CSAL had opened more than 30 international all-cargo routes connecting multiple domestic cities, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai, with a wide range of metropolises around the world, like Los Angeles and Amsterdam.
(Executive editor: Zuo Shihan)
