Dried and smoked fish exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported dried and smoked fish worth $11.8 million (2.4 thousand tonnes). Value rose 8% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $11.8M | 2.4K t |
| 2023 | $11.0M | 1.9K t |
| 2022 | $10.8M | 1.7K t |
| 2021 | $8.8M | 2.2K t |
| 2020 | $8.5M | 2.3K t |
| 2019 | $12.5M | 2.6K t |
| 2018 | $10.5M | 2.1K t |
| 2017 | $9.2M | 1.6K t |
Where South Africa exports dried and smoked fish to
The largest buyer markets were Australia (34%), Macao (16%), Kazakhstan (15%). Among the main buyer markets, Singapore grew fastest (+92% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | $4.0M | 34% |
| Macao | $1.9M | 17% |
| Kazakhstan | $1.8M | 15% |
| Singapore | $1.5M | 12% |
| Japan | $875K | 7.4% |
| Hong Kong | $637K | 5.4% |
| Namibia | $410K | 3.5% |
| Zambia | $183K | 1.6% |
| Botswana | $101K | 0.9% |
| Mozambique | $83K | 0.7% |
Product types under HS 0305
| 0305.72 | Fish: edible offal, fish heads, tails and maws | 27% |
| 0305.49 | Fish: smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking, n.e.c. in item no. 0305.4, includes fillets, but excludes edible fish offal | 25% |
| 0305.10 | Fish: flours, meals and pellets, fit for human consumption | 19% |
| 0305.20 | Fish: livers, roes and milt of fish, dried, smoked, salted or in brine | 7.1% |
| 0305.32 | Fish fillets: dried, salted or in brine, but not smoked, of the families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae… | 6.9% |
| 0305.41 | Fish: smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking, salmon, Pacific (Oncorhynchus nerka, gorbuscha, keta, tschawytscha, kisutch, masou… | 4.5% |
| 0305.71 | Fish: edible offal, shark fins | 4% |
| 0305.79 | Fish: edible offal, other than shark fins, fish heads, tails and maws | 2.8% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 0305.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.99 per kg, 40% below the world average of $8.26, 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.
Dried and smoked fish imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $4.1 million of dried and smoked fish in 2024 (1.3 thousand tonnes). One supplier dominates: Namibia accounted for 71% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $2.9M | 71% |
| Norway | $541K | 13% |
| Portugal | $122K | 3% |
| Peru | $106K | 2.6% |
| Thailand | $86K | 2.1% |
| Argentina | $83K | 2% |
| Japan | $77K | 1.9% |
| Belgium | $44K | 1.1% |
| Myanmar | $37K | 0.9% |
| Malawi | $28K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
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.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 0305: Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before, or during the smoking process.
Common questions
What is the value of dried and smoked fish exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported dried and smoked fish worth $11.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 52nd of 165 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 8% on 2023.
Which countries buy dried and smoked fish from South Africa?
Australia was the largest buyer with 34% of the value ($4.0 million), followed by Macao (16%) and Kazakhstan (15%). The top three together account for 66%, out of 37 buyer countries in total. Zambia grew fastest among the top ten, up 108% on the year.
What is the average export price of dried and smoked fish per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.99 per kg in 2024, 40% below the world average of $8.26 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have exports of dried and smoked fish from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $9.2 million in 2017 to $11.8 million in 2024, an increase of 28%. The peak was 2019 at $12.5 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also import dried and smoked fish?
Yes. South Africa imported $4.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Namibia, Norway and Portugal. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $7.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for dried and smoked fish?
The HS code for dried and smoked fish is heading 0305. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 0305.72 (27% of the value) and 0305.49 (25%). It sits in HS chapter 03 (fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0305 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see the companies that ship to and from it. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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