Prepared eels trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in prepared eels was worth $773.0 million in 2024, about 47.1 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 35% 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
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $773.0M | 47.1K t |
| 2023 | $761.9M | 45.5K t |
| 2022 | $876.3M | 44.1K t |
| 2021 | $889.4M | 50.2K t |
| 2020 | $577.5M | 34.6K t |
| 2019 | $709.0M | 37.0K t |
| 2018 | $719.6M | 37.9K t |
| 2017 | $573.1M | 31.1K t |
Top prepared eels exporting countries
China is the largest exporter with 97% of world exports, followed by the Netherlands and Germany. The top three supply 98% between them, out of 53 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $748.9M | 97% |
| Netherlands | $5.2M | 0.7% |
| Germany | $4.7M | 0.6% |
| Taiwan | $2.2M | 0.3% |
| Japan | $2.1M | 0.3% |
| Kazakhstan | $1.7M | 0.2% |
| Belgium | $1.0M | 0.1% |
| Chile | $908K | 0.1% |
| United States | $615K | 0.1% |
| Portugal | $604K | 0.1% |
| Hong Kong | $498K | 0.1% |
| Latvia | $497K | 0.1% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are Japan (51%), the United States (13%) and Russia (8%). 120 countries imported it, and the top three take 72% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $395.7M | 51% |
| United States | $98.1M | 13% |
| Russia | $61.5M | 8% |
| Malaysia | $36.3M | 4.7% |
| South Korea | $24.2M | 3.1% |
| Hong Kong | $22.0M | 2.8% |
| Taiwan | $20.0M | 2.6% |
| Ukraine | $15.8M | 2% |
| Netherlands | $10.3M | 1.3% |
| Thailand | $9.5M | 1.2% |
| Kazakhstan | $8.3M | 1.1% |
| Australia | $8.1M | 1% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $16.41 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $28.13 per kg and Chile $3.44 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
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 1604.17: Fish preparations: eels, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced). HS 1604 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most prepared eels?
China exported $748.9 million in 2024, 97% of the world total, followed by the Netherlands (1%) and Germany (1%). In all, 53 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most prepared eels?
Japan imported $395.7 million in 2024, 51% of world imports, ahead of the United States (13%) and Russia (8%). The top three importers together take 72%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in prepared eels?
It was worth $773.0 million in 2024, about 47.1 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 35% since 2017. The peak year was 2021 at $889.4 million. 53 countries reported exports and 120 reported imports.
What is the average price of prepared eels per kg?
The world average declared value was about $16.41 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $28.13 per kg and Chile $3.44 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 prepared eels?
The HS code for prepared eels is subheading 1604.17, in chapter 16 (meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or insects; preparations thereof). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 1604 page.
How can I find prepared eels 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.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.