Fresh sardines and sprats trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in fresh sardines and sprats was worth $86.6 million in 2024, about 102.1 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 4% since 2017, and up 1% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $86.6M | 102.1K t |
| 2023 | $86.1M | 104.6K t |
| 2022 | $89.0M | 111.0K t |
| 2021 | $99.6M | 137.6K t |
| 2020 | $76.0M | 103.2K t |
| 2019 | $87.5M | 119.4K t |
| 2018 | $114.8M | 147.8K t |
| 2017 | $83.7M | 847.5K t |
Top fresh sardines and sprats exporting countries
Spain is the largest exporter with 23% of world exports, followed by Portugal and Sweden. The top three supply 42% between them, out of 76 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | $19.9M | 23% |
| Portugal | $10.3M | 12% |
| Sweden | $6.1M | 7.1% |
| Italy | $5.7M | 6.5% |
| Lithuania | $5.4M | 6.3% |
| Myanmar | $5.2M | 6% |
| Croatia | $4.4M | 5% |
| Germany | $4.3M | 5% |
| Estonia | $3.7M | 4.3% |
| Finland | $3.0M | 3.4% |
| Poland | $2.8M | 3.3% |
| France | $2.8M | 3.2% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are Denmark (18%), Spain (16%) and Portugal (14%). 118 countries imported it, and the top three take 49% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | $15.8M | 18% |
| Spain | $13.9M | 16% |
| Portugal | $12.5M | 14% |
| France | $8.9M | 10% |
| Poland | $5.9M | 6.8% |
| Thailand | $5.4M | 6.2% |
| Estonia | $3.8M | 4.4% |
| Italy | $3.7M | 4.3% |
| Latvia | $3.3M | 3.8% |
| Saudi Arabia | $2.0M | 2.3% |
| Belgium | $1.4M | 1.6% |
| Netherlands | $884K | 1% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.85 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Spain averaged $2.41 per kg and Lithuania $0.46 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 0302.43: Fish: fresh or chilled, sardines (Sardina pilchardus, Sardinops spp.), sardinella (Sardinella spp.), brisling or sprats (Sprattus sprattus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99. HS 0302 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most fresh sardines and sprats?
Spain exported $19.9 million in 2024, 23% of the world total, followed by Portugal (12%) and Sweden (7%). In all, 76 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most fresh sardines and sprats?
Denmark imported $15.8 million in 2024, 18% of world imports, ahead of Spain (16%) and Portugal (14%). The top three importers together take 49%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in fresh sardines and sprats?
It was worth $86.6 million in 2024, about 102.1 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 4% since 2017. The peak year was 2018 at $114.8 million. 76 countries reported exports and 118 reported imports.
What is the average price of fresh sardines and sprats per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.85 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Spain averaged $2.41 per kg and Lithuania $0.46 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for fresh sardines and sprats?
The HS code for fresh sardines and sprats is subheading 0302.43, in chapter 03 (fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 0302 page.
How can I find fresh sardines and sprats buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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