Live fish exports from Kenya: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, Kenya exported live fish worth $2.3 million (401 tonnes). That is 13% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $3.6 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.3M | 401 t |
| 2023 | $2.6M | 468 t |
| 2022 | $2.0M | 439 t |
| 2021 | $3.6M | 632 t |
| 2020 | $1.9M | 504 t |
| 2019 | $1.8M | 309 t |
| 2018 | $2.7M | 107 t |
| 2017 | $2.4M | 107 t |
Where Kenya exports live fish to
Most of it went to United States (44%), Hong Kong (9%), Israel (7%). Among the main buyer markets, Hong Kong grew fastest (+735% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.0M | 45% |
| Hong Kong | $204K | 8.9% |
| Israel | $154K | 6.7% |
| Italy | $109K | 4.8% |
| Germany | $91K | 4% |
| United Kingdom | $58K | 2.5% |
| South Africa | $45K | 2% |
| Netherlands | $34K | 1.5% |
| Sri Lanka | $33K | 1.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | $33K | 1.4% |
Product types under HS 0301
| 0301.19 | Live saltwater ornamental fish | 60% |
| 0301.11 | Live freshwater ornamental fish | 39% |
| 0301.99 | Live fish (other species) | 1.9% |
| 0301.92 | Live eels | 0% |
| 0301.94 | Live bluefin tuna | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 0301.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.71 per kg, 34% below the world average of $8.63, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya live fish exports (HS 0301): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 0301: Fish; live.
Common questions
What is the value of live fish exported by Kenya?
Kenya exported live fish worth $2.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 401 tonnes. That ranks it 54th of 153 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was down 13% on 2023.
Which countries buy live fish from Kenya?
The United States was the largest buyer with 44% of the value ($1.0 million), followed by Hong Kong (9%) and Israel (7%). The top three together account for 60%, out of 64 buyer countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 735% on the year.
What is the average export price of live fish per kg?
The average declared export value was about $5.71 per kg in 2024, 34% below the world average of $8.63 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have exports of live fish from Kenya changed since 2017?
Exports went from $2.4 million in 2017 to $2.3 million in 2024, a fall of 5%. The peak was 2021 at $3.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for live fish?
The HS code for live fish is heading 0301. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 0301.19 (60% of the value) and 0301.11 (39%).
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.
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.