Frozen fish imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of frozen fish by Kenya reached $4.4 million in 2024 (3.9 thousand tonnes). That is 42% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 25% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $32.7 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4.4M | 3.9K t |
| 2023 | $7.6M | 7.2K t |
| 2022 | $11.9M | 10.1K t |
| 2021 | $19.8M | 16.6K t |
| 2020 | $16.9M | 15.2K t |
| 2019 | $9.9M | 7.6K t |
| 2018 | $32.7M | 19.4K t |
| 2017 | $31.4M | 18.4K t |
Where Kenya imports frozen fish from
Most of the value came from China (31%), Tanzania (20%), Taiwan (15%). Among the main suppliers, South Korea grew fastest (+93% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.4M | 31% |
| Tanzania | $887K | 20% |
| Taiwan | $664K | 15% |
| South Korea | $530K | 12% |
| Japan | $289K | 6.6% |
| Oman | $280K | 6.4% |
| Norway | $112K | 2.6% |
| Indonesia | $90K | 2.1% |
| India | $48K | 1.1% |
| Seychelles | $44K | 1% |
Product types under HS 0303
| 0303.54 | Frozen mackerel | 59% |
| 0303.29 | Fish: frozen, Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings… | 20% |
| 0303.89 | Other frozen fish | 8.8% |
| 0303.69 | Frozen whitefish (other) | 5.2% |
| 0303.13 | Frozen Atlantic salmon | 2.4% |
| 0303.51 | Frozen herring | 1.4% |
| 0303.53 | Frozen sardines and sprats | 1.3% |
| 0303.23 | Frozen tilapia | 0.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 0303.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.12 per kg, 46% below the world average of $2.06, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Frozen fish exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $3.9 million of frozen fish in 2024 (970 tonnes). Most of it went to Spain (35%), Portugal (26%), France (24%). Among the main buyer markets, Italy grew fastest (+333% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | $1.4M | 35% |
| Portugal | $1.0M | 26% |
| France | $923K | 24% |
| Italy | $235K | 6% |
| South Korea | $186K | 4.7% |
| United States | $114K | 2.9% |
| Rwanda | $58K | 1.5% |
| DR Congo | $18K | 0.5% |
| Greece | $17K | 0.4% |
| South Sudan | $1K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya frozen fish imports (HS 0303): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 0303: Fish; frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304.
Common questions
What is the value of frozen fish imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported frozen fish worth $4.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 135th of 220 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 42% on 2023.
Which countries supply frozen fish to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 31% of the value ($1.4 million), followed by Tanzania (20%) and Taiwan (15%). The top three together account for 67%, out of 15 supplier countries in total. South Korea grew fastest among the top ten, up 93% on the year.
What is the average import price of frozen fish per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.12 per kg in 2024, 46% below the world average of $2.06 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of frozen fish to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $31.4 million in 2017 to $4.4 million in 2024, a fall of 86%. The peak was 2018 at $32.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $16.8 million a year.
Does Kenya also export frozen fish?
Yes. Kenya exported $3.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Spain, Portugal and France. That compares with imports of $4.4 million in the same year.
What is the HS code for frozen fish?
The HS code for frozen fish is heading 0303. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 0303.54 (59% of the value) and 0303.29 (20%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Kenya, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
Frozen fish product types in Kenya
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