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
Fastest-Growing Fish Import Countries
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.