OSLO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Norway exported 2.6 million tonnes of seafood worth 94.5 billion Norwegian kroner (11.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2017, a record high both in value and volume, the Norwegian Seafood Council said on Monday.

This is an increase in value of 3 percent, or 3 billion kroner, and an increase in volume of 7 percent from the record year of 2016, the council said in a statement.

"2017 was yet another fantastic year for Norwegian seafood exports," Renate Larsen, managing director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, was quoted as saying.

"We see a growth in value and volume for overseas markets in Asia and the United States. Simultaneously, exports to the European Union (EU) were unchanged from 2016," she said.

Of the total value of Norway's seafood exports in 2017, 72 percent came from aquaculture and 28 percent from fishing. Measured in volume, the distribution was 40 percent from aquaculture and 60 percent from fishing.

Salmon is the most important species for Norwegian seafood exports, with over 68 percent of the total export value and 38 percent of the volume, according to the council.

Norway exported 1.6 million tonnes of seafood to the EU worth 61 billion kroner in 2017. This is an increase in volume of 2 percent, while the value is at the same level as 2016.

Norway exported 539,000 tonnes of seafood worth 18.7 billion kroner to Asia in 2017. This is an increase in value of 1.3 billion kroner, or 8 percent, and an increase in volume of 12 percent, or 59,000 tonnes, from 2016.

The largest growth market in 2017 was the United States, with a full 1 billion kroner in growth or 23 percent, for a total export value of 5.7 billion kroner. This makes the United States the fourth largest market in 2017, following Poland, Denmark and France. (1 U.S. dollar = 8.0834 Norwegian kroner)