Frozen mackerel imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported frozen mackerel worth $2.2 million (1.6 thousand tonnes). Value fell 4% from 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 | $2.2M | 1.6K t |
| 2023 | $2.3M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $1.9M | 1.8K t |
| 2021 | $1.2M | 984 t |
| 2020 | $1.7M | 1.4K t |
| 2019 | $2.0M | 1.6K t |
| 2018 | $2.0M | 1.8K t |
| 2017 | $1.8M | 1.5K t |
Where South Africa imports frozen mackerel from
Most of the value came from Norway (34%), Namibia (17%), China (12%). Among the main suppliers, Japan grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | $745K | 34% |
| Namibia | $384K | 17% |
| China | $270K | 12% |
| Japan | $268K | 12% |
| Iceland | $102K | 4.6% |
| Morocco | $72K | 3.3% |
| Taiwan | $70K | 3.2% |
| Netherlands | $64K | 2.9% |
| Greenland | $57K | 2.6% |
| Mauritius | $57K | 2.6% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.36 per kg, close to the world average of $1.54.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Frozen mackerel exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported frozen mackerel worth $755 thousand (338 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Mozambique accounted for 75% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | $563K | 75% |
| Namibia | $70K | 9.2% |
| Eswatini | $30K | 4% |
| Uruguay | $28K | 3.7% |
| Togo | $27K | 3.5% |
| Zambia | $12K | 1.6% |
| Zimbabwe | $12K | 1.6% |
| Botswana | $8K | 1% |
| Angola | $4K | 0.5% |
| Malawi | $2K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa frozen mackerel imports (HS 0303.54): 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 0303.54: Fish: frozen, mackerel (Scomber scombrus, Scomber australasicus, Scomber japonicus), 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 mackerel imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported frozen mackerel worth $2.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 67th of 181 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 4% on 2023.
Which countries supply frozen mackerel to South Africa?
Norway was the largest supplier with 34% of the value ($745 thousand), followed by Namibia (17%) and China (12%). The top three together account for 63%, out of 14 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 182% on the year.
What is the average import price of frozen mackerel per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.36 per kg in 2024, 12% below the world average of $1.54 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 mackerel to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.8 million in 2017 to $2.2 million in 2024, an increase of 24%. The peak was 2023 at $2.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $1.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export frozen mackerel?
Yes. South Africa exported $755 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for frozen mackerel?
The HS code for frozen mackerel is subheading 0303.54. 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 0303 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.
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