Frozen tilapia exports from Zambia: data, top buyers and prices
Zambia exported $2.9 million of frozen tilapia in 2024 (2.0 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 9th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 75 countries. Value rose 23% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 31% a year on average.
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 | $2.9M | 2.0K t |
| 2023 | $2.4M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $3.3M | 2.5K t |
| 2021 | $3.4M | 2.7K t |
| 2020 | $2.3M | 1.3K t |
| 2019 | $1.9M | 1.1K t |
| 2018 | $92K | 93 t |
| 2017 | $451K | 237 t |
Where Zambia exports frozen tilapia to
One buyer market dominates: Zimbabwe accounted for 63% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest (+219% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $1.9M | 63% |
| DR Congo | $533K | 18% |
| South Africa | $341K | 12% |
| Malawi | $193K | 6.6% |
| Botswana | $6K | 0.2% |
| Namibia | $5K | 0.2% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.49 per kg, close to the world average of $1.85.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Frozen tilapia imports to Zambia
Imports of frozen tilapia by Zambia reached $1.6 million in 2024 (889 tonnes). China alone supplied 72% of it. Among the main suppliers, South Africa grew fastest (+57% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.1M | 73% |
| South Africa | $410K | 26% |
| India | $22K | 1.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia frozen tilapia exports (HS 0303.23): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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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 0303.23: Fish: frozen, tilapias (Oreochromis spp.), 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 tilapia exported by Zambia?
Zambia exported frozen tilapia worth $2.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 9th of 75 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was up 23% on 2023.
Which countries buy frozen tilapia from Zambia?
Zimbabwe was the largest buyer with 63% of the value ($1.9 million), followed by the DR Congo (18%) and South Africa (12%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 6 buyer countries in total. Malawi grew fastest among the top ten, up 219% on the year.
What is the average export price of frozen tilapia per kg?
The average declared export value was about $1.49 per kg in 2024, 19% below the world average of $1.85 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of frozen tilapia from Zambia changed since 2017?
Exports went from $451 thousand in 2017 to $2.9 million in 2024, an increase of 553%. The peak was 2021 at $3.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.1 million a year.
Does Zambia also import frozen tilapia?
Yes. Zambia imported $1.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, South Africa and India. On balance Zambia is a net exporter of this product, by about $1.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for frozen tilapia?
The HS code for frozen tilapia is subheading 0303.23. 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?
EximDataX rebuilds Zambia trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
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