Global Frozen Freshwater Fish Market 2025

Frozen Freshwater Fish Market Size

After two years of decline, the global frozen freshwater fish market increased by 8.7% to $X in 2021. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $X. From 2017 to 2021, the growth of the global market failed to regain momentum.

Frozen Freshwater Fish Production

In value terms, frozen freshwater fish production rose sharply to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when the production volume increased by 12% against the previous year. Global production peaked at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, production remained at a lower figure.

Frozen Freshwater Fish Exports

Exports

In 2021, the amount of frozen freshwater fish exported worldwide declined modestly to X tons, reducing by -2.8% against the previous year. In general, exports showed a slight downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 15%. Over the period under review, the global exports hit record highs at X tons in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, frozen freshwater fish exports rose notably to $X in 2021. Overall, exports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when exports increased by 15%. The global exports peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

In 2021, China (X tons), distantly followed by Vietnam (X tons), Indonesia (X tons), Senegal (X tons), the United States (X tons) and India (X tons) were the main exporters of frozen freshwater fish, together comprising 45% of total exports. The following exporters - Oman (X tons), Malaysia (X tons), New Zealand (X tons), Japan (X tons), Argentina (X tons), Mauritania (X tons) and Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons) - together made up 21% 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, Senegal (+184.4%), India (+67.1%), Mauritania (+34.7%), Malaysia (+21.2%), Oman (+18.1%), Vietnam (+14.4%) and New Zealand (+3.9%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Senegal emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the world, with a CAGR of +184.4% from 2012-2021. By contrast, Japan (-1.9%), Argentina (-4.3%), the United States (-5.4%), Indonesia (-7.9%) and Taiwan (Chinese) (-11.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Senegal (+5.6 p.p.), India (+5 p.p.), Vietnam (+4.9 p.p.), Oman (+2.8 p.p.), Malaysia (+2.7 p.p.) and Mauritania (+2.4 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the global exports, while the United States, Taiwan (Chinese), Indonesia and China saw its share reduced by -2.7%, -3.9%, -5.5% and -6.4% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($X) remains the largest frozen freshwater fish supplier worldwide, comprising 26% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was held by the United States ($X), with a 7.5% share of global exports. It was followed by Vietnam, with a 6.3% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in China amounted to -1.6%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the United States (-4.2% per year) and Vietnam (+18.0% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The average frozen freshwater fish export price stood at $X per ton in 2021, picking up by 8.5% against the previous year. Over the last nine-year period, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.5%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the average export price increased by 15% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs in 2021 and is likely to see steady growth in the near future.

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 global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Frozen Freshwater Fish Imports

Imports

In 2021, after three years of growth, there was decline in supplies from abroad of frozen freshwater fish, when their volume decreased by -4.1% to X tons. In general, imports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 when imports increased by 16%. Global imports peaked at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, frozen freshwater fish imports stood at $X in 2021. Over the period under review, imports recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 13% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global imports attained the maximum at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2021, China (X tons), distantly followed by South Korea (X tons), the United States (X tons), Cote d'Ivoire (X tons) and Thailand (X tons) were the largest importers of frozen freshwater fish, together achieving 46% of total imports. Japan (X tons), Malaysia (X tons), Vietnam (X tons), Colombia (X tons), Cameroon (X tons), Bangladesh (X tons), Senegal (X tons) and the Netherlands (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into China increased at an average annual rate of +4.1% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Senegal (+224.7%), Bangladesh (+31.7%), Cote d'Ivoire (+15.0%), Colombia (+11.5%), Malaysia (+6.5%), Cameroon (+5.1%), the Netherlands (+4.4%) and the United States (+4.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Senegal emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the world, with a CAGR of +224.7% from 2012-2021. By contrast, South Korea (-4.6%), Vietnam (-5.4%), Japan (-7.7%) and Thailand (-11.7%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of China, Cote d'Ivoire, the United States, Senegal and Bangladesh increased by +6.6, +3.7, +2.2, +2.1 and +2 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($X), the United States ($X) and South Korea ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, with a combined 38% share of global imports. Japan, Cote d'Ivoire, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Cameroon, Senegal and Bangladesh lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 26%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Senegal, with a CAGR of +137.8%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the average frozen freshwater fish import price amounted to $X per ton, increasing by 5.3% against the previous year. In general, the import price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. Global import price peaked at $X per ton in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was Japan ($X per ton), while Bangladesh ($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 global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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