Fresh hake exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported fresh hake worth $7.3 million (1.7 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 7th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 58 countries. Value rose 46% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $9.9 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 | $7.3M | 1.7K t |
| 2023 | $5.0M | 1.2K t |
| 2022 | $6.1M | 1.3K t |
| 2021 | $7.3M | 1.5K t |
| 2020 | $9.0M | 1.6K t |
| 2019 | $9.9M | 2.2K t |
| 2018 | $6.9M | 1.9K t |
| 2017 | $6.0M | 1.8K t |
Where South Africa exports fresh hake to
One buyer market dominates: Spain accounted for 60% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Lesotho grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | $4.4M | 60% |
| France | $632K | 8.7% |
| Portugal | $437K | 6% |
| United States | $384K | 5.3% |
| Eswatini | $337K | 4.6% |
| Germany | $262K | 3.6% |
| Lesotho | $230K | 3.2% |
| Israel | $194K | 2.7% |
| Namibia | $160K | 2.2% |
| Canada | $71K | 1% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.26 per kg, close to the world average of $4.66.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa fresh hake exports (HS 0302.54): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 0302.54: Fish: fresh or chilled, hake (Merluccius spp., Urophycis spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99.
Common questions
What is the value of fresh hake exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported fresh hake worth $7.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 7th of 58 countries worldwide, with 5% of world exports. The value was up 46% on 2023.
Which countries buy fresh hake from South Africa?
Spain was the largest buyer with 60% of the value ($4.4 million), followed by France (9%) and Portugal (6%). The top three together account for 75%, out of 20 buyer countries in total. Eswatini grew fastest among the top ten, up 201% on the year.
What is the average export price of fresh hake per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.26 per kg in 2024, 9% below the world average of $4.66 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have exports of fresh hake from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $6.0 million in 2017 to $7.3 million in 2024, an increase of 21%. The peak was 2019 at $9.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $7.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for fresh hake?
The HS code for fresh hake is subheading 0302.54. 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 0302 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For South Africa, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
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