Asia: Frozen Freshwater Fish Market 2025

Frozen Freshwater Fish Market Size in Asia

In 2021, after four years of decline, there was significant growth in the Asian frozen freshwater fish market, when its value increased by 6.3% to $X. Over the period under review, consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2017 to 2021, the growth of the market remained at a lower figure.

Frozen Freshwater Fish Production in Asia

In value terms, frozen freshwater fish production rose rapidly to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 17% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production attained the maximum level at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Frozen Freshwater Fish Exports

Exports in Asia

For the fifth consecutive year, Asia recorded decline in shipments abroad of frozen freshwater fish, which decreased by -5.8% to X tons in 2021. In general, exports continue to indicate a mild descent. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 26% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, frozen freshwater fish exports expanded remarkably to $X in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 30% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

Exports by Country

China was the major exporting country with an export of about X tons, which reached 27% of total exports. Vietnam (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total exports with a 12% share, followed by Indonesia (11%), India (8.6%), Oman (6.1%), Malaysia (5.5%) and Japan (5%). The following exporters - Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons), Thailand (X tons), Iran (X tons), Turkey (X tons), South Korea (X tons) and Pakistan (X tons) - together made up 19% of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to frozen freshwater fish exports from China stood at -5.0%. At the same time, India (+67.1%), Pakistan (+33.1%), Iran (+28.8%), Malaysia (+21.2%), Oman (+18.1%), Turkey (+16.4%) and Vietnam (+14.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, India emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in Asia, with a CAGR of +67.1% from 2012-2021. By contrast, Japan (-1.9%), Indonesia (-7.9%), Thailand (-8.7%), South Korea (-9.6%) and Taiwan (Chinese) (-11.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of India (+8.6 p.p.), Vietnam (+8.5 p.p.), Oman (+4.9 p.p.), Malaysia (+4.7 p.p.), Iran (+2.7 p.p.), Pakistan (+2.1 p.p.) and Turkey (+1.9 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2021, the share of South Korea (-2.9 p.p.), Thailand (-4.2 p.p.), Taiwan (Chinese) (-6.7 p.p.), Indonesia (-9.4 p.p.) and China (-10.9 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($X) remains the largest frozen freshwater fish supplier in Asia, comprising 43% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Vietnam ($X), with a 10% share of total exports. It was followed by India, with a 7.8% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual growth rate of value in China totaled -1.6%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Vietnam (+18.0% per year) and India (+64.3% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Asia stood at $X per ton in 2021, growing by 14% against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2021, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.5%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 an increase of 18%. The level of export peaked in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was China ($X per ton), while Oman ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Indonesia (+9.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Frozen Freshwater Fish Imports

Imports in Asia

After three years of growth, purchases abroad of frozen freshwater fish decreased by -8.5% to X tons in 2021. Over the period under review, imports recorded a perceptible slump. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when imports increased by 24%. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, frozen freshwater fish imports fell to $X in 2021. In general, imports continue to indicate a mild decline. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when imports increased by 18%. The level of import peaked at $X in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

China was the key importing country with an import of about X tons, which amounted to 38% of total imports. South Korea (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 15% share, followed by Thailand (9.2%), Japan (7.4%), Malaysia (5.3%) and Vietnam (4.9%). The following importers - Bangladesh (X tons), Hong Kong SAR (X tons), Saudi Arabia (X tons), Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons) and the United Arab Emirates (X tons) - together made up 12% of total imports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to frozen freshwater fish imports into China stood at +4.1%. At the same time, Bangladesh (+31.7%), Malaysia (+6.5%), the United Arab Emirates (+5.2%), Hong Kong SAR (+4.3%) and Saudi Arabia (+2.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Bangladesh emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Asia, with a CAGR of +31.7% from 2012-2021. By contrast, South Korea (-4.6%), Vietnam (-5.4%), Japan (-7.7%), Thailand (-11.7%) and Taiwan (Chinese) (-13.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of China, Bangladesh and Malaysia increased by +16, +3.8 and +2.8 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($X), South Korea ($X) and Japan ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, together comprising 64% of total imports. Hong Kong SAR, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan (Chinese), Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 27%.

Bangladesh, with a CAGR of +27.0%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Asia stood at $X per ton in 2021, growing by 3.3% against the previous year. Overall, the import price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when the import price increased by 7.9%. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2018 to 2021, the import prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was Hong Kong SAR ($X per ton), while Bangladesh ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Thailand (+3.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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