Fresh lobster exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
The United States exported $516.9 million of fresh lobster in 2024 (26.8 thousand tonnes). It ranks 2nd of 82 countries for exports of this product. That is close to the 2023 level. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $680.0 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 | $516.9M | 26.8K t |
| 2023 | $503.1M | 29.0K t |
| 2022 | $442.5M | 27.2K t |
| 2021 | $680.0M | 36.1K t |
| 2020 | $417.9M | 29.2K t |
| 2019 | $519.8M | 33.4K t |
| 2018 | $613.6M | 43.7K t |
| 2017 | $561.2M | 42.5K t |
Where the United States exports fresh lobster to
Most of it went to Canada (46%), China (30%), Italy (8%).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $239.9M | 46% |
| China | $157.2M | 30% |
| Italy | $42.8M | 8.3% |
| Hong Kong | $15.5M | 3% |
| France | $13.8M | 2.7% |
| Spain | $13.1M | 2.5% |
| Thailand | $5.1M | 1% |
| Qatar | $4.0M | 0.8% |
| United Arab Emirates | $4.0M | 0.8% |
| Singapore | $3.9M | 0.8% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $19.30 per kg, close to the world average of $19.51.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Fresh lobster imports to the United States
The United States imported $349.0 million of fresh lobster in 2024 (19.7 thousand tonnes). It ranks 2nd of 112 countries for imports of this product. Canada alone supplied 99% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $347.1M | 100% |
| Australia | $1.1M | 0.3% |
| Norway | $290K | 0.1% |
| Nicaragua | $113K | 0% |
| Honduras | $77K | 0% |
| Portugal | $64K | 0% |
| Ireland | $54K | 0% |
| Vietnam | $47K | 0% |
| United Kingdom | $26K | 0% |
| Bahamas | $23K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
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.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 0306.32: Crustaceans: live, fresh or chilled, lobsters (Homarus spp.), whether in shell or not.
Common questions
What is the value of fresh lobster exported by the United States?
The United States exported fresh lobster worth $516.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 26.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 2nd of 82 countries worldwide, with 31% of world exports. The value was up 3% on 2023.
Which countries buy fresh lobster from the United States?
Canada was the largest buyer with 46% of the value ($239.9 million), followed by China (30%) and Italy (8%). The top three together account for 85%, out of 54 buyer countries in total. Qatar grew fastest among the top ten, up 344% on the year.
What is the average export price of fresh lobster per kg?
The average declared export value was about $19.30 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $19.51 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have exports of fresh lobster from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $561.2 million in 2017 to $516.9 million in 2024, a fall of 8%. The peak was 2021 at $680.0 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does the United States also import fresh lobster?
Yes. The United States imported $349.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Canada, Australia and Norway. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $167.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for fresh lobster?
The HS code for fresh lobster is subheading 0306.32. 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 0306 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States with shipment-level records, updated weekly, so you can see importers and exporters by name with dates, quantities and declared values. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.