HS Code:
This category includes various freshwater fish species such as Tilapias (Oreochromis spp.), Catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), Carp (Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus, Catla catla, Labeo spp., Osteochilus hasselti, Leptobarbus hoeveni, Megalobrama spp.), Eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile Perch (Lates niloticus), and Snakeheads (Channa spp.), classified under HS Code 0303 (frozen fish, excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99). These species are significant in global aquaculture and fisheries trade, often raised or caught for human consumption. They are traded primarily in frozen form and are vital to food security in many regions, particularly in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe and North America. The trade involves both wild-caught and farmed fish, with aquaculture playing a dominant role for species like tilapia, catfish, and carp.
Total Trade Volume
Approximately 5.2 million metric tons
Data from 2022
Source
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics, UN Comtrade
1.8 million metric tons
34.6% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
1.2 million metric tons
23.1% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
0.6 million metric tons
11.5% of total trade of total trade
Stable
0.4 million metric tons
7.7% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
0.3 million metric tons
5.8% of total trade of total trade
Stable
Average Rate
8.5% ad valorem
Highest Rate
25% (applied by certain countries on non-WTO members or under specific trade disputes)
Lowest Rate
0% (under free trade agreements like EU-ASEAN or USMCA)
Growing demand for sustainable aquaculture products
Increased certification requirements (e.g., ASC certification for tilapia and catfish) are pushing producers to adopt sustainable practices, affecting trade costs but improving market access in premium markets like the EU and US.
2021-2023
Rise in intra-Asian trade
Strengthening regional trade agreements and demand in Southeast Asia have boosted exports of carp and tilapia within Asia, reducing dependency on Western markets.
2020-2022
Fluctuations in feed prices
Rising costs of fish feed (soybean and corn-based) have increased production costs for carp and catfish, leading to price volatility in international markets.
2022-2023
The US Department of Commerce updated its anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese Pangasius, setting rates between 0% and 25.76% depending on the exporter, following a review of trade practices.
March 2023
This may reduce Vietnamese catfish competitiveness in the US market, potentially shifting supply to other regions like the EU or domestic Asian markets.
The EU implemented stricter residue limits for antibiotics in imported fish, affecting tilapia and catfish from Asia, with mandatory testing for all shipments from certain countries.
January 2023
Exporters face higher compliance costs and delays, potentially reducing trade volumes to the EU in the short term while encouraging better farming practices.
China has invested in modern aquaculture technologies to increase carp production, aiming to meet domestic demand and reduce reliance on imports.
Mid-2022
This could lead to a decline in carp imports into China, affecting exporters like India and Bangladesh, while increasing Chinese exports in the long term.