Top 10 seafood exporters in the world

Explore the top 10 seafood exporters in the world, from China and Norway to Vietnam and the U.S., with insights on export values, key markets, and global trade trends.

China

China boasts a vast ocean area and abundant marine resources, a large fishing industry, and a high total production. Of the approximately 3,000 fish species worldwide, China boasts over 2,400, with marine fish accounting for approximately three-fifths. China is not only the world’s largest seafood producer but also the world’s largest seafood exporter.

According to statistics, China’s seafood exports have exceeded US$10 billion each year since 2012, ranking first in the world for many years. In 2020, China exported 1.317 million tons of seafood and fish, accounting for nearly 25% of the world’s total seafood exports. In 2022, China’s cumulative exports of aquatic products and products reached US$22.616 billion, with a cumulative export volume of 3.7095 million tons. China primarily exports fish fillets, mollusks, frozen fish, and crustaceans to other countries.

Norway

Norway, located in Northern Europe, borders the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The confluence of cold and warm currents creates world-class fishing grounds, creating unique natural conditions for fish growth and reproduction. Its abundant marine fishery resources have made Norway the world’s second-largest seafood exporter. Norway’s fishing industry is a key pillar of its economy. With over 6,000 fishing vessels and a catch of nearly 3 million tons of fish, Norway ranks among the world’s top ten aquatic product producers, supplying seafood to over 150 countries.

Since 2012, Norway’s seafood exports have exceeded $10 billion, ranking second in the world, second only to China. In 2021, it even surpassed China with $13.39 billion, becoming the world’s largest seafood exporter. According to data released by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Norwegian seafood exports reached a new record high in 2022, totaling 2.9 million tons and valued at $17.5 billion. Norway mainly exports seafood such as Arctic cod, North Atlantic salmon, and trout to Europe and other countries. Norwegian salmon is especially famous, making it the world’s largest exporter of salmon.

Vietnam

Vietnam is a coastal country with a coastline stretching over 3,000 kilometers, providing excellent natural conditions for the development of aquaculture. With a long-standing history of a well-developed fishing industry and a large labor force, the aquatic economy plays a significant role in Vietnam’s national economy. According to statistics, Vietnam’s total fishery output reached 8.5 million tons in 2020, making it one of the world’s top ten seafood producers. This abundant seafood offering has also made Vietnam a top ten seafood exporter.

Since 2012, Vietnam’s seafood exports have exceeded US$5 billion, ranking third. According to the Vietnam Seafood Exporters and Producers Association, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached US$11 billion in 2022, a 23.8% increase from US$8.89 billion in 2021, making it the world’s third largest seafood exporter. Vietnam’s seafood exports are primarily destined for other Asian countries, with Japan being the largest export destination.

India

India, a vast country surrounded by the sea on three sides and boasting a long coastline, boasts abundant fishery resources, producing over 10 million tons of seafood annually, making it the world’s third-largest fishery producer. While India’s fishing industry is primarily based on capture fishing, aquaculture has also developed rapidly. This abundant seafood and well-developed fishing industry have made India one of the top ten seafood exporters in the world.

According to statistics, since 2012, India’s seafood exports have ranged from US$5 billion to US$7 billion, making it the third-largest seafood exporter in Asia. According to the latest Indian government data, seafood exports from April 2022 to March 2023 reached 1,735,286 tons, valued at US$8.09 billion, representing year-on-year increases of 26.73% and 4.31%, respectively. Both export volume and value reached record highs, surpassing those of the United States. India primarily exports shrimp and other seafood to Southeast Asia, Europe, the United States, and China. Frozen shrimp is India’s primary seafood export, with over 350,000 tons of shrimp and fish exported annually to countries around the world.

Canada

Located in northern North America, Canada boasts vast maritime expanses. Its coastal waters are known as the “world’s largest fishing grounds,” renowned for their rich fishery resources. Surrounded by the sea on three sides and boasting a 202,080-kilometer coastline, Canada boasts a wealth of coveted seafood, including familiar spot prawns, oysters, and flatfish, making it one of the world’s richest countries in terms of fisheries.

Canada boasts a high seafood production, but due to its small population, its primary focus is export. Canadian seafood exports include lobster, queen crab, shrimp, Atlantic salmon, and many other seafood products. According to statistics, Canada’s seafood exports exceeded $4 billion in 2015 and reached $6.32 billion in 2021, a 143.9% increase, ranking first in North America and the largest seafood exporter in the Americas.

United States

The United States, spanning both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, boasts vast expanses of water and a wide range of latitudes, making it one of the world’s richest marine resources. It boasts a wide variety of seafood, from saltwater to freshwater and deep-sea. The United States is not only one of the world’s largest seafood consumers and producers, but also one of the world’s top ten seafood exporters.

According to statistics, U.S. seafood exports have exceeded $5 billion since 2012. In recent years, the United States has enacted several laws to curb overfishing, leading to a decline in seafood exports. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 2022, the United States exported 1.19 million tons of seafood, a 7% decrease from the previous year, with exports valued at $5.2 billion, a 3% decrease from the previous year, making it the second-largest seafood exporter in the Americas. The United States primarily exports Alaska pollock, salmon, crab products, and caviar, primarily to Canada, China, South Korea, Japan, and other countries.

Chile

Chile, with its long, narrow north-south territory and wide latitudes, boasts a 4,300-kilometer coastline and a rich variety of fish. Chile’s proximity to the cold Peruvian Current, creating the “Peruvian Fishing Ground,” provides abundant fish resources. Furthermore, Chile has a strong aquaculture foundation, making it a leading global producer of farmed salmon and trout. Fishing and aquaculture dominate Chile’s coastal industries, making it the largest seafood producer in South America.

Chile is also one of the world’s top ten seafood exporters, primarily to Europe, the United States, and Brazil. According to statistics, Chile’s seafood exports have ranged from US$4 billion to US$6 billion since 2012, reaching US$5.8 billion in 2021, ranking first and the largest seafood exporter in South America.

Russia

Russia boasts abundant fishery resources and is a major global fishing nation, producing over 4 million tons of seafood annually, making it one of the world’s top ten seafood producers. Russia’s primary fishing grounds are concentrated in the Bering Sea, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and the Sea of ​​Japan, with the Far East being Russia’s most important fishing economic zone. According to statistics, Russia’s fishery production in 2021 was approximately 4.89 million tons, of which 3.46 million tons came from the Far East. Russia, with its vast territory and relatively small population, primarily exports seafood.

Since 2016, Russia’s seafood exports have exceeded $3 billion, placing it among the world’s top ten seafood exporters. According to Russian statistics, by the end of 2022, Russia had exported 2.3 million tons of seafood, valued at $6.1 billion. Of this, 566,000 tons, valued at $1.5 billion, went to China. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China has become the primary destination for Russian seafood exports, with over half of Russia’s aquatic exports destined for China. The main products are pollock, herring, flounder, sardines, cod, and crab.

Indonesia

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, boasting over 17,000 islands, known as the “Thousand Islands.” With the equator running east to west, Indonesia’s economic zone spans 5.8 million square kilometers, boasting abundant marine resources. With an annual seafood output exceeding 15 million tons, Indonesia is the world’s second-largest seafood producer, second only to China.

Indonesia exports seafood to 171 countries worldwide, primarily seaweed, tuna, shrimp, and crab. The main destinations are the United States, China, Japan, and the European Union. According to Indonesian government statistics, from January to November 2022, Indonesia’s seafood exports reached US$5.71 billion, making it one of the world’s top ten seafood exporters.

Sweden

Sweden borders the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat Sea, and its coastal environment fosters salmon, mullet, sea bass, soft-shelled turtle, and other fish. Sweden’s cold climate slows fish growth, resulting in exceptionally delicious seafood. Sweden boasts a thriving fishing industry, primarily focused on frozen and freshwater fish, with salmon, cod, caviar, and other fish being the main exports.

According to statistics, Sweden’s seafood exports have exceeded $3 billion since 2013, and since 2016, have reached over $4 billion, ranking third in Europe, behind only Norway and Russia.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a coastal country with numerous islands. Its main fishing grounds are in the North Sea, the English Channel, and the North Atlantic. The Netherlands has a well-developed fishing industry, relying primarily on deep-sea and near-shore fishing, primarily catching herring, mackerel, and cod.

Netherlands’ total seafood exports are approximately US$3 billion. Dutch seafood exports include cold-water shrimp, frozen mackerel, and frozen herring, primarily to European countries. In addition to the aforementioned countries, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil are also major seafood exporters worldwide.