Notable Surge in Japan's Freshwater Fish Imports, Reaching $440M in 2023
Japan Freshwater Fish Imports
In 2023, supplies from abroad of freshwater fish decreased by -3% to 14K tons for the first time since 2020, thus ending a two-year rising trend. Overall, imports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 with an increase of 24%. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at 18K tons in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2023, imports failed to regain momentum.
In value terms, freshwater fish imports rose markedly to $440M (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. Over the period under review, imports saw a noticeable downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 108% against the previous year. Imports peaked at $595M in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2023, imports failed to regain momentum.
COUNTRY | Import Value of Freshwater Fish in Japan (million USD) | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
China | 198 | 167 | 143 | 186 | 155 | 248 | 218 | 168 | 159 | 203 | 221 |
Hong Kong | 295 | 55.2 | 61.1 | 129 | 13.1 | 190 | 216 | 56.1 | 42.9 | 123 | 155 |
South Korea | 64.0 | 55.6 | 49.0 | 55.8 | 55.9 | 50.9 | 42.9 | 33.3 | 35.6 | 38.1 | 39.0 |
Taiwan (Chinese) | 33.2 | 25.5 | 60.5 | 65.9 | 47.8 | 76.3 | 58.8 | 31.9 | 28.1 | 42.9 | 24.3 |
Others | 4.7 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Total | 595 | 306 | 314 | 437 | 272 | 565 | 536 | 295 | 266 | 408 | 440 |
Imports by Country
In 2023, China (7.9K tons) constituted the largest supplier of freshwater fish to Japan, accounting for a 56% share of total imports. Moreover, freshwater fish imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Hong Kong (2.9K tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was taken by South Korea (2.6K tons), with an 18% share.
From 2013 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of volume from China stood at +6.4%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Hong Kong (-5.9% per year) and South Korea (-1.1% per year).
In value terms, the largest freshwater fish suppliers to Japan were China ($221M), Hong Kong ($155M) and South Korea ($39M), with a combined 94% share of total imports.
In terms of the main suppliers, China, with a CAGR of +1.1%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced a decline.
Import Prices by Country
In 2023, the freshwater fish price amounted to $31,002 per ton (CIF, Japan), rising by 11% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price, however, continues to indicate a pronounced reduction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 an increase of 84% against the previous year. Over the period under review, average import prices reached the maximum at $45,139 per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2023, import prices failed to regain momentum.
There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2023, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Hong Kong ($53,574 per ton), while the price for South Korea ($14,987 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Hong Kong (-0.3%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced a decline.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDSThis Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2024
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Trade Balance, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Trade Balance, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024