Frozen tilapia imports in the United Arab Emirates: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United Arab Emirates imported frozen tilapia worth $3.6 million (2.5 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value rose 17% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2017, at $4.8 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 | $3.6M | 2.5K t |
| 2023 | $3.1M | 4.6K t |
| 2022 | $3.9M | 5.6K t |
| 2021 | $4.4M | 5.7K t |
| 2020 | $3.7M | 3.9K t |
| 2019 | $3.4M | 2.8K t |
| 2018 | $3.8M | 2.8K t |
| 2017 | $4.8M | 2.9K t |
Where the United Arab Emirates imports frozen tilapia from
Most of the value came from India (48%), Thailand (41%), China (4%). Among the main suppliers, Thailand grew fastest (+507% on the year before).
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.45 per kg, 22% below the world average of $1.85, 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.
Frozen tilapia exports from the United Arab Emirates
Exports of frozen tilapia by the United Arab Emirates reached $420 thousand in 2024 (378 tonnes). Benin alone took 85% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Benin grew fastest (+525% on the year before).
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
The shipment records behind United Arab Emirates frozen tilapia imports (HS 0303.23): 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 0303.23: Fish: frozen, tilapias (Oreochromis 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 tilapia imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported frozen tilapia worth $3.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 18th of 152 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 17% on 2023.
Which countries supply frozen tilapia to the United Arab Emirates?
India was the largest supplier with 48% of the value ($1.7 million), followed by Thailand (41%) and China (4%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 8 supplier countries in total. Thailand grew fastest among the top ten, up 507% on the year.
What is the average import price of frozen tilapia per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.45 per kg in 2024, 22% below the world average of $1.85 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 tilapia to the United Arab Emirates changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.8 million in 2017 to $3.6 million in 2024, a fall of 25%. The peak was 2017 at $4.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.8 million a year.
Does the United Arab Emirates also export frozen tilapia?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported $420 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Benin, Mozambique and the Central African Republic. On balance the United Arab Emirates is a net importer of this product, by about $3.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for frozen tilapia?
The HS code for frozen tilapia is subheading 0303.23. 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 the United Arab Emirates, 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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