Frozen sardines and sprats imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United States imported frozen sardines and sprats worth $7.5 million (8.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. The value was almost unchanged from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $10.0 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 | $7.5M | 8.2K t |
| 2023 | $7.5M | 9.2K t |
| 2022 | $8.3M | 9.9K t |
| 2021 | $7.1M | 9.2K t |
| 2020 | $7.2M | 8.6K t |
| 2019 | $6.2M | 7.2K t |
| 2018 | $10.0M | 15.1K t |
| 2017 | $7.4M | 7.6K t |
Where the United States imports frozen sardines and sprats from
One supplier dominates: Mexico accounted for 51% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Finland grew fastest (+157% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $3.8M | 51% |
| Portugal | $1.4M | 18% |
| India | $375K | 5% |
| Finland | $290K | 3.9% |
| Netherlands | $279K | 3.7% |
| Brazil | $278K | 3.7% |
| Japan | $212K | 2.8% |
| Malaysia | $131K | 1.8% |
| Morocco | $125K | 1.7% |
| Venezuela | $104K | 1.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.91 per kg, close to the world average of $0.81.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Frozen sardines and sprats exports from the United States
In 2024, the United States exported frozen sardines and sprats worth $1.2 million (943 tonnes). French Polynesia alone took 65% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Canada grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| French Polynesia | $800K | 65% |
| Dominican Republic | $126K | 10% |
| Oman | $79K | 6.4% |
| Belgium | $48K | 3.9% |
| Canada | $41K | 3.3% |
| Bermuda | $34K | 2.7% |
| El Salvador | $26K | 2.1% |
| Georgia | $24K | 2% |
| New Caledonia | $20K | 1.6% |
| Guatemala | $18K | 1.5% |
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 0303.53: Fish: frozen, sardines (Sardina pilchardus, Sardinops spp.), sardinella (Sardinella spp.), brisling or sprats (Sprattus sprattus), 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 sardines and sprats imported by the United States?
The United States imported frozen sardines and sprats worth $7.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 8.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 17th of 176 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 0% on 2023.
Which countries supply frozen sardines and sprats to the United States?
Mexico was the largest supplier with 51% of the value ($3.8 million), followed by Portugal (18%) and India (5%). The top three together account for 74%, out of 28 supplier countries in total. Malaysia grew fastest among the top ten, up 575% on the year.
What is the average import price of frozen sardines and sprats per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.91 per kg in 2024, 12% above the world average of $0.81 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 imports of frozen sardines and sprats to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $7.4 million in 2017 to $7.5 million in 2024, an increase of 1%. The peak was 2018 at $10.0 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does the United States also export frozen sardines and sprats?
Yes. The United States exported $1.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to French Polynesia, the Dominican Republic and Oman. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $6.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for frozen sardines and sprats?
The HS code for frozen sardines and sprats is subheading 0303.53. 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?
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.
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