Seafood trade data | Seafish

Seafood trade data

The UK imports and exports most of its fish and shellfish. We use HMRC data to analyse the performance of seafood trade routes in and out of the UK.



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Seafood imported to the UK 

The value of our seafood imports has increased by over £1 billion in the last decade. In the UK, we import most of the seafood we eat. The top five imported species are what UK consumers eat the most.

In 2022, we imported over 1.2 million tonnes of seafood worth £3.6 billion. This represents a value increase of 16% and volume increase of 0.3% from 2021. 

Our top five importing countries by value were: 

  1. Norway (£649 million) 
  2. Iceland (£286 million) 
  3. China (£278 million) 
  4. Vietnam (£255million) 
  5. Faroe Islands (£231 million) 

Our top five imported species by value were: 

  1. Salmon (£783 million) 
  2. Shrimps and prawns (£665 million) 
  3. Cod (£564 million) 
  4. Tuna (£403 million) 
  5. Haddock (£234 million) 

In 2022, our top five importing countries by volume were: 

  1. China (153,000 tonnes) 
  2. Norway (151,000 tonnes) 
  3. Iceland (91,000 tonnes) 
  4. Netherlands (70,000 tonnes) 
  5. Vietnam (68,000 tonnes) 

In 2022, our top five imported species by volume were: 

  1. Tuna (220,000 tonnes) 
  2. Cod (213,000 tonnes) 
  3. Salmon (130,000 tonnes) 
  4. Shrimps and prawns (111,000 tonnes) 
  5. Haddock (100,000 tonnes) 

Seafood exported from the UK

Internationally, UK caught or farmed seafood is desired for its quality and provenance and rose by 7% in 2022. 

In 2022, the UK exported 454,000 tonnes worth £1.7 billion to 117 different countries. Although more than two thirds of value and volume went to the top five countries. 

In 2022, 74% of the UK’s exported seafood volume was to the EU. This is down from 82% in 2020, before the UK left the EU. The EU’s ,market share of UKs seafood exports value has declined from 75% in 2020 to 70% in 2022.

In 2022, our top five exporting countries by value were: 

  1. France (£783 million) 
  2. USA (£242 million) 
  3. Spain (£100 million) 
  4. Netherlands (£73 million) 
  5. China (£69 million) 

In 2022, our top five exported species by value were: 

  1. Salmon (£704 million) 
  2. Nephrops (£125 million) 
  3. Mackerel (£107 million) 
  4. Scallops (£90 million) 
  5. Crab (£77 million) 

In 2022, our top five exporting countries by volume were: 

  1. France (170,400 tonnes) 
  2. Netherlands (35,000 tonnes) 
  3. USA (32,000 tonnes) 
  4. Spain (30,000 tonnes) 
  5. Italy (20,000 tonnes) 

In 2022, our top five exported species by volume were: 

  1. Salmon (111,000 tonnes) 
  2. Mackerel (59,300 tonnes) 
  3. Herring (31,500 tonnes) 
  4. Scallop (26,400 tonnes) 
  5. Nephrops (22,600 tonnes) 

Trade and Tariff Tool

Our Trade and Tariff Tool has data for seafood imported and exported in the UK. Businesses can use it to research potential new markets. 

Its an interactive tool built using business intelligence software on Tableau and gives access to historical trade data from 2010 to 2020. It covers data on seafood trade for human consumption only and is based on HMRC data. It also includes data on trade tariffs. 

The data includes weight, value and country by year and can be displayed year by year, making comparisons easy and allowing businesses to identify trends and opportunities. 

Follow the link below to access the Trade and Tariff Tool. 

Latest UK seafood trade data

Follow the link below to access the latest UK seafood trade data from our insights and economics teams.

Contact us

If you’d like further information on any of our trade data, please contact our Economics team by emailing economics@seafish.co.uk   

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