Fish meal imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported fish meal worth $2.4 million (1.4 thousand tonnes). Value rose 56% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $2.4M | 1.4K t |
| 2023 | $1.5M | 1.4K t |
| 2022 | $885K | 549 t |
| 2021 | $2.0M | 1.4K t |
| 2020 | $2.1M | 2.0K t |
| 2019 | $1.3M | 1.5K t |
| 2018 | $1.2M | 843 t |
| 2017 | $1.5M | 1.3K t |
Where South Africa imports fish meal from
The largest suppliers were Brazil (30%), Uruguay (24%), Morocco (19%). Among the main suppliers, Morocco grew fastest (+435% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | $712K | 30% |
| Uruguay | $567K | 24% |
| Morocco | $458K | 19% |
| Namibia | $451K | 19% |
| Mauritius | $85K | 3.5% |
| Chile | $64K | 2.7% |
| Thailand | $40K | 1.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $29K | 1.2% |
| Canada | $2K | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | $1K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.74 per kg, close to the world average of $1.55.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Fish meal exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $94.6 million of fish meal in 2024 (60.0 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 2%. The largest buyer markets were China (24%), Spain (16%), Denmark (15%). Among the main buyer markets, Germany grew fastest (+663% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $22.5M | 24% |
| Spain | $15.0M | 16% |
| Denmark | $14.4M | 15% |
| Greece | $11.6M | 12% |
| Norway | $6.5M | 6.9% |
| Germany | $6.3M | 6.6% |
| Turkey | $5.4M | 5.7% |
| Taiwan | $2.8M | 3% |
| Japan | $2.3M | 2.5% |
| Zambia | $1.6M | 1.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa fish meal imports (HS 2301.20): 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.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
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 2301.20: Flours, meals and pellets: of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates.
Common questions
What is the value of fish meal imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported fish meal worth $2.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 63rd of 142 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 56% on 2023.
Which countries supply fish meal to South Africa?
Brazil was the largest supplier with 30% of the value ($712 thousand), followed by Uruguay (24%) and Morocco (19%). The top three together account for 72%, out of 13 supplier countries in total. Morocco grew fastest among the top ten, up 435% on the year.
What is the average import price of fish meal per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.74 per kg in 2024, 12% above the world average of $1.55 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of fish meal to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.5 million in 2017 to $2.4 million in 2024, an increase of 59%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $1.6 million a year.
Does South Africa also export fish meal?
Yes. South Africa exported $94.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to China, Spain and Denmark. That compares with imports of $2.4 million in the same year.
What is the HS code for fish meal?
The HS code for fish meal is subheading 2301.20. It sits in HS chapter 23 (food industries, residues and wastes thereof; prepared animal fodder). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2301 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
More trade data for South Africa
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.