🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates imports of prepared fish: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Arab Emirates imported prepared fish worth $200.5 million (45.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 39% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 10% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of prepared fish by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $200.5M | 45.2K t |
| 2023 | $144.5M | 38.9K t |
| 2022 | $147.9M | 39.8K t |
| 2021 | $112.0M | 29.6K t |
| 2020 | $98.2M | 26.3K t |
| 2019 | $106.9M | 27.4K t |
| 2018 | $104.4M | 26.8K t |
| 2017 | $106.2M | 23.4K t |
Where the United Arab Emirates imports prepared fish from
One supplier dominates: Thailand accounted for 70% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Thailand grew fastest (+56% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | $140.7M | 70% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $10.3M | 5.2% |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | $8.2M | 4.1% |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | $7.3M | 3.7% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $5.8M | 2.9% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $4.3M | 2.2% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $4.3M | 2.2% |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | $4.0M | 2% |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $2.8M | 1.4% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $2.4M | 1.2% |
Types of prepared fish under HS 1604
| 1604.14 | Fish preparations: tunas, skipjack and Atlantic bonito (sarda spp.), prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced) | 76% |
| 1604.20 | Fish preparations: fish minced or in forms n.e.c. in heading no. 1604, prepared or preserved | 5.2% |
| 1604.15 | Fish preparations: mackerel, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced) | 5% |
| 1604.13 | Fish preparations: sardines, sardinella and brisling or sprats, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced) | 5% |
| 1604.31 | Fish preparations: caviar | 4.5% |
| 1604.19 | Fish preparations: fish prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced), n.e.c. in heading no. 1604 | 2.1% |
| 1604.32 | Fish preparations: caviar substitutes, prepared from fish eggs | 1.4% |
| 1604.16 | Fish preparations: anchovies, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced) | 0.5% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 1604.
Average import price of prepared fish
The average declared value was about $4.43 per kg, close to the world average of $4.93.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Arab Emirates also exports prepared fish
The United Arab Emirates exported $4.1 million of prepared fish in 2024 (538 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Israel (19%), Maldives (14%), Kuwait (13%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 47%. Among the main buyer markets, Central African Republic grew fastest (+31% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇱 Israel | $786K | 19% |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | $592K | 14% |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | $545K | 13% |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | $545K | 13% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $387K | 9.4% |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | $269K | 6.5% |
| 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | $267K | 6.5% |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | $197K | 4.8% |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | $83K | 2% |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | $80K | 1.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
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.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 1604: Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs.
Prepared fish trade in the United Arab Emirates: questions
What is the value of prepared fish imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported prepared fish worth $200.5 million in 2024 (45.2 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Arab Emirates import prepared fish from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Thailand (70%), China (5%), Seychelles (4%).
What is the average import price of prepared fish in the United Arab Emirates?
The average declared import value was about $4.43 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $4.93 per kg.
Does the United Arab Emirates export prepared fish?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported prepared fish worth $4.1 million in 2024, mainly to Israel, Maldives, Kuwait.
What is the HS code for prepared fish?
Prepared fish falls under HS heading 1604 (Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading prepared fish with the United Arab Emirates?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX builds the United Arab Emirates trade from the records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see who ships this product there.
Prepared fish trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Arab Emirates
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