This list reveals the top 10 fish importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world fish imports totaled US$119 billion.
African Importers

Africa imported $3.3 billion worth of fish led by the following countries:

  1. Nigeria: $691.8 million
  2. Egypt: $567.2 million
  3. South Africa: $282.6 million
  4. Côte d'Ivoire: $211.1 million
  5. Mauritius: $180.7 million
  6. Morocco: $164.6 million
  7. Ghana: $160.2 million
  8. Zambia: $125.2 million
  9. Seychelles: $105.4 million
10. Algeria: $98.1 million
Asian Importers

Asia imported $41.2 billion worth of fish led by the following countries:

  1. Japan: $11.7 billion
  2. China: $8.1 billion
  3. Vietnam: $6.2 billion
  4. South Korea: $4.3 billion
  5. Thailand: $3.2 billion
  6. Hong Kong: $3.2 billion
  7. Taiwan: $1.1 billion
  8. Singapore: $813.6 million
  9. Malaysia: $807 million
10. Philippines: $509.6 million
European Union (EU) Importers

European Union imported $44.5 billion worth of fish led by the following EU members:

  1. Spain: $6.8 billion
  2. France: $5.4 billion
  3. Italy: $5.2 billion
  4. Germany: $4.7 billion
  5. Sweden: $4.6 billion
  6. Netherlands: $3.4 billion
  7. United Kingdom: $2.7 billion
  8. Denmark: $2.1 billion
  9. Portugal: $2.1 billion
10. Poland: $2 billion
Latin American and Caribbean Importers

Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $2.6 billion worth of fish led by the following countries:

  1. Brazil: $1.3 billion
  2. Peru: $210 million
  3. Colombia: $203.4 million
  4. Dominican Rep: $132.7 million
  5. Costa Rica: $90 million
  6. Argentina: $84.4 million
  7. Ecuador: $82.3 million
  8. Guatemala: $79.5 million
  9. Chile: $76.4 million
10. Jamaica: $61.5 million
Middle Eastern Importers

Middle East imported $1.8 billion worth of fish led by the following countries:

  1. Israel: $490.2 million
  2. United Arab Emirates: $427.8 million
  3. Saudi Arabia: $378.7 million
  4. Kuwait: $183 million
  5. Iran: $88.5 million
  6. Lebanon: $86.8 million
  7. Qatar: $53 million
  8. Jordan: $52 million
  9. Oman: $33.4 million
10. Bahrain: $21.9 million
North American Importers

North America imported $20.8 billion worth of fish led by the following countries:

  1. United States: $17.9 billion
  2. Canada: $2.2 billion
  3. Mexico: $705.8 million
Oceanian Importers

Oceania imported $1.1 billion worth of fish led by the following countries:

  1. Australia: $842.8 million
  2. New Zealand: $100.7 million
  3. Fiji: $45.1 million
  4. Papua New Guinea: $15 million
  5. Palau: $13.2 million
  6. Solomon Islands: $12.2 million
  7. French Polynesia: $9.7 million
  8. New Caledonia: $4.8 million
  9. Tonga: $4.4 million
10. Northern Mariana Is: $2.9 million
To see the 25 fastest-growing fish importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported fish was 15.9%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis

Top Fish Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Fish Import Countries
Site Index
Fish Exporters
Fish Importers
Copper Exporters
Copper Importers

Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.