Fresh fish imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of fresh fish by Zambia reached $2.9 million in 2024 (1.9 thousand tonnes). Value rose 5% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 31% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $11.5 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 | $2.9M | 1.9K t |
| 2023 | $2.8M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $1.9M | 1.4K t |
| 2021 | $3.2M | 2.6K t |
| 2020 | $4.9M | 1.5K t |
| 2019 | $11.5M | 4.2K t |
| 2018 | $7.4M | 4.1K t |
| 2017 | $427K | 170 t |
Where Zambia imports fresh fish from
One supplier dominates: Mozambique accounted for 61% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Namibia grew fastest (+145% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | $1.8M | 61% |
| Namibia | $707K | 24% |
| China | $207K | 7.2% |
| South Africa | $115K | 4% |
| Tanzania | $40K | 1.4% |
| Zimbabwe | $32K | 1.1% |
| Japan | $18K | 0.6% |
| Norway | $7K | 0.3% |
Product types under HS 0302
| 0302.71 | Fresh tilapia | 42% |
| 0302.19 | Fresh salmonidae (other) | 29% |
| 0302.43 | Fresh sardines and sprats | 20% |
| 0302.44 | Fresh mackerel | 1.9% |
| 0302.14 | Fresh Atlantic salmon | 1.5% |
| 0302.45 | Fresh horse mackerel | 1.4% |
| 0302.49 | Fresh fish variety | 1.4% |
| 0302.54 | Fresh hake | 1.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 0302.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.52 per kg, 75% below the world average of $6.18, 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.
Fresh fish exports from Zambia
Exports of fresh fish by Zambia reached $328 thousand in 2024 (214 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Malawi accounted for 71% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest (+46% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | $234K | 71% |
| DR Congo | $65K | 20% |
| South Africa | $26K | 7.8% |
| Botswana | $3K | 0.9% |
| Namibia | $1K | 0.2% |
| United States | $1K | 0.2% |
| Sweden | $0K | 0% |
| Finland | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia fresh fish imports (HS 0302): 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 0302: Fish; fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304.
Common questions
What is the value of fresh fish imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported fresh fish worth $2.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 95th of 208 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply fresh fish to Zambia?
Mozambique was the largest supplier with 61% of the value ($1.8 million), followed by Namibia (24%) and China (7%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 8 supplier countries in total. Namibia grew fastest among the top ten, up 145% on the year.
What is the average import price of fresh fish per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.52 per kg in 2024, 75% below the world average of $6.18 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of fresh fish to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $427 thousand in 2017 to $2.9 million in 2024, an increase of 579%. The peak was 2019 at $11.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $4.4 million a year.
Does Zambia also export fresh fish?
Yes. Zambia exported $328 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Malawi, the DR Congo and South Africa. On balance Zambia is a net importer of this product, by about $2.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for fresh fish?
The HS code for fresh fish is heading 0302. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 0302.71 (42% of the value) and 0302.19 (29%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for Zambia. Tell us your product to see it live.
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