Vičiūna to build US$108M salmon processing facility in Lithuania
Vičiūna and Partners has started construction on a new salmon processing plant. The facility will significantly increase production capacity, positioning the company among Europe’s top five producers.
LITHUANIA -Vičiūna and Partners (VIP) has begun constructing a salmon processing facility in Plungė, Lithuania, with an investment of approximately US$108 million (€100 million).
The new plant will expand the company’s processing capacity from 18,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes annually.
With the increased production, VIP anticipates its annual revenue to rise from around US$161 million (€150 million) to US$538 million (€500 million).
Once operational, the facility will strengthen the company’s standing among the top salmon processors in Europe.
The new plant is being built next to VIP’s current production and warehouse complex in Plungė, covering a total area of 29,000 square meters.
More than 16,000 square meters will be dedicated to production, making it 4.5 times larger than the company’s existing facilities.
The project includes the construction of new buildings with a total floor area exceeding 29,000 square metres, with over 16,000 square metres dedicated to production.
The new processing space is 4.5 times larger than the company’s current facilities.
As part of its sustainability strategy, the plant will have a 1.5MW solar power system on its roof, eliminating the use of natural gas. Excess energy from the system will be used for heating.
Automation and robotics will play a key role in the facility’s operations, including supply handling, preparation, packaging, and storage.
The company says this will reduce manual labor while enhancing safety measures for employees.
Vičiūna aims to strengthen its position in the market and compete with major industry players such as Mowi, the world’s largest Atlantic salmon producer.
Mowi harvested 501,530 tonnes of salmon in 2024, with a fourth-quarter output of 133,596 tonnes.
The company reported US$6.13 billion (€5.62 billion) in revenue that year and has projected a harvest of 530,000 tonnes for 2025.
The expansion comes at a time when the European salmon industry is changing.
Norway remains the dominant supplier, accounting for 55% of global salmon production.
Approximately 70% of Norwegian salmon exports are destined for the European market.
Poland, France, and Denmark are among the largest importers of Norwegian salmon, where processors turn the raw fish into products such as fillets and smoked salmon for distribution across the EU.
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