Frozen jack mackerel imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported frozen jack mackerel worth $14.0 million (12.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 5% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $25.7 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 | $14.0M | 12.1K t |
| 2023 | $14.8M | 12.7K t |
| 2022 | $15.8M | 14.7K t |
| 2021 | $21.2M | 20.0K t |
| 2020 | $17.7M | 21.4K t |
| 2019 | $21.0M | 22.3K t |
| 2018 | $25.7M | 28.2K t |
| 2017 | $24.8M | 29.2K t |
Where South Africa imports frozen jack mackerel from
Namibia alone supplied 89% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $12.5M | 89% |
| Morocco | $1.0M | 7.4% |
| China | $172K | 1.2% |
| Oman | $85K | 0.6% |
| Norway | $63K | 0.5% |
| Taiwan | $41K | 0.3% |
| New Zealand | $30K | 0.2% |
| Mauritius | $22K | 0.2% |
| Chile | $21K | 0.2% |
| South Korea | $10K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.16 per kg, close to the world average of $1.15.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Frozen jack mackerel exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported frozen jack mackerel worth $8.3 million (4.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Mozambique alone took 94% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | $7.8M | 94% |
| Nigeria | $319K | 3.9% |
| Canada | $56K | 0.7% |
| Eswatini | $28K | 0.3% |
| Namibia | $18K | 0.2% |
| United States | $16K | 0.2% |
| Malawi | $11K | 0.1% |
| France | $6K | 0.1% |
| Zambia | $5K | 0.1% |
| Botswana | $1K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa frozen jack mackerel imports (HS 0303.55): 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 0303.55: Fish: frozen, jack and horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99.
Common questions
What is the value of frozen jack mackerel imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported frozen jack mackerel worth $14.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 12.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 18th of 137 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply frozen jack mackerel to South Africa?
Namibia was the largest supplier with 89% of the value ($12.5 million), followed by Morocco (7%) and China (1%). The top three together account for 98%, out of 11 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 195% on the year.
What is the average import price of frozen jack mackerel per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.16 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.15 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of frozen jack mackerel to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $24.8 million in 2017 to $14.0 million in 2024, a fall of 43%. The peak was 2018 at $25.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $19.4 million a year.
Does South Africa also export frozen jack mackerel?
Yes. South Africa exported $8.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mozambique, Nigeria and Canada. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $5.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for frozen jack mackerel?
The HS code for frozen jack mackerel is subheading 0303.55. 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 0303 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.
Same product, other countries
World frozen jack mackerel trade: top importers and exporters
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