Live freshwater ornamental fish imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
The United States imported $71.1 million of live freshwater ornamental fish in 2024 (2.9 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 139 countries. Value rose 5% on 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 | $71.1M | 2.9K t |
| 2023 | $67.8M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $73.2M | 2.4K t |
| 2021 | $79.5M | 3.2K t |
| 2020 | $64.2M | 2.7K t |
| 2019 | $50.6M | 865 t |
| 2018 | $54.1M | 895 t |
| 2017 | $49.3M | 1.1K t |
Where the United States imports live freshwater ornamental fish from
Most of the value came from Singapore (16%), United Kingdom (11%), Japan (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 38%. Among the main suppliers, United Kingdom grew fastest (+129% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $11.4M | 16% |
| United Kingdom | $8.0M | 11% |
| Japan | $7.9M | 11% |
| Thailand | $7.8M | 11% |
| Indonesia | $7.8M | 11% |
| Sri Lanka | $7.0M | 9.8% |
| Colombia | $3.1M | 4.4% |
| Philippines | $2.9M | 4.1% |
| Taiwan | $2.2M | 3.1% |
| Vietnam | $1.9M | 2.6% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $24.35 per kg, close to the world average of $30.06.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Live freshwater ornamental fish exports from the United States
Exports of live freshwater ornamental fish by the United States reached $4.2 million in 2024 (175 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Most of it went to Mexico (29%), Canada (27%), Germany (6%). Among the main buyer markets, Poland grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $1.2M | 29% |
| Canada | $1.1M | 28% |
| Germany | $235K | 5.6% |
| Poland | $206K | 4.9% |
| Guatemala | $178K | 4.3% |
| China | $177K | 4.2% |
| Hong Kong | $140K | 3.4% |
| Costa Rica | $95K | 2.3% |
| Japan | $93K | 2.2% |
| Taiwan | $82K | 2% |
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 0301.11: Fish: live, ornamental, freshwater.
Common questions
What is the value of live freshwater ornamental fish imported by the United States?
The United States imported live freshwater ornamental fish worth $71.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 139 countries worldwide, with 25% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply live freshwater ornamental fish to the United States?
Singapore was the largest supplier with 16% of the value ($11.4 million), followed by the United Kingdom (11%) and Japan (11%). The top three together account for 38%, out of 61 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 129% on the year.
What is the average import price of live freshwater ornamental fish per kg?
The average declared import value was about $24.35 per kg in 2024, 19% below the world average of $30.06 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 live freshwater ornamental fish to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $49.3 million in 2017 to $71.1 million in 2024, an increase of 44%. The peak was 2021 at $79.5 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does the United States also export live freshwater ornamental fish?
Yes. The United States exported $4.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Canada and Germany. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $66.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for live freshwater ornamental fish?
The HS code for live freshwater ornamental fish is subheading 0301.11. 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 0301 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.
Same product, other countries
World live freshwater ornamental fish trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
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