HS Code:
This category includes a variety of small to medium-sized pelagic fish such as herrings (Clupea harengus, Clupea pallasii), anchovies (Engraulis spp.), sardines (Sardina pilchardus, Sardinops spp.), sardinella (Sardinella spp.), brisling or sprats (Sprattus sprattus), mackerel (Scomber scombrus, Scomber australasicus, Scomber japonicus), Indian mackerels (Rastrelliger spp.), seerfishes (Scomberomorus spp.), jack and horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), jacks, crevalles (Caranx spp.), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), silver pomfrets (Pampus spp.), Pacific saury (Cololabis saira), scads (Decapterus spp.), capelin (Mallotus villosus), swordfish (Xiphias gladius), kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis), bonitos (Sarda spp.), and marlins, sailfishes, spearfish (Istiophoridae). These species are primarily traded under HS Code 0302 (fresh or chilled) and HS Code 0303 (frozen) categories. They are critical to global food security, often consumed directly or processed into fishmeal and oil for animal feed. The trade is driven by demand for affordable protein sources, aquaculture feed, and canned products.
Total Trade Volume
Approximately 20 million metric tons
Data from 2022
Source
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics, UN Comtrade
3.5 million metric tons
17.5% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
3.2 million metric tons
16% of total trade of total trade
Stable
2.8 million metric tons
14% of total trade of total trade
Decreasing
2.5 million metric tons
12.5% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
2.0 million metric tons
10% of total trade of total trade
Stable
Average Rate
5-10% ad valorem
Highest Rate
25% (imposed by certain developing countries on processed products)
Lowest Rate
0% (under free trade agreements like EU-Norway or USMCA)
Rising demand for sustainable and certified products
Increased certification under schemes like MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) drives market access but raises costs for producers.
2021-2023
Growth in aquaculture feed production
High demand for fishmeal and oil (from anchovies, sardines, and capelin) boosts trade volumes, particularly in South America.
2020-2022
Climate change impacting fish stocks
Shifting migration patterns and overfishing affect supply stability, particularly for herring and mackerel in the North Atlantic.
2019-2023
A new bilateral agreement was signed to manage shared stocks of mackerel, herring, and other pelagic fish in the North Atlantic, setting quotas for 2023.
March 2023
Stabilizes trade flows and reduces disputes over quotas, benefiting exporters in Norway and importers in the EU.
Peru reduced its anchovy fishing quota by 20% due to El Niño effects on stock levels, impacting global fishmeal supply.
June 2023
Increased prices for fishmeal, affecting aquaculture industries worldwide, especially in Asia.
Japan introduced stricter import controls on swordfish to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
January 2023
Exporters to Japan must comply with enhanced traceability requirements, potentially reducing trade volumes in the short term.