Frozen shrimp from Argentina to European Union: what buyers specify and verify
Short answer: Spain is Argentina's largest langostino market, with Italy next. This is a wild-caught product: each consignment needs an IUU catch certificate submitted through CATCH, and vessel and catch-area details belong in the brief. FishMatch reviews annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more, free for buyers, and contacts screened producers for you — there is no direct buyer–supplier contact.
Validated by official trade data
Trade evidence for this route
- VerifiedData year 2024
HS 030613 exports: Spain US$330 million, 55,839 t; Italy US$142 million, 22,051 t.
Source: WITS / UN Comtrade — Argentina 2024 exports of HS 030613 by partner (HS 1988/92) (read 23 October 2026)
- VerifiedData year 2025
Langostino exports: Spain 36,866 t (US$257.0 million), Italy 13,956 t (US$108.4 million).
Source: Argentina Ministry (MAGyP), Fisheries — fisheries and aquaculture exports and imports 2025 (INDEC data, Spanish) (read 23 October 2026)
Historical customs and association values, not prices, current demand or any supplier's capacity. No prices, transit times or certificates are claimed for this route.
Product on this route
- Species and production
- Pleoticus muelleri, Argentine red shrimp (wild-caught) — wild-caught, not farmed: catch rules apply.
- Candidate HS headings
- 0306.17 — confirm classification with your customs broker. Historical trade tables use the older code 030613 for all frozen shrimp and prawns.
- Raw frozen forms commonly specified
- Whole frozen on board, tails, peeled — a starting list, not evidence that any producer can supply them.
- Prepared / value-added
- No prepared-shrimp trade evidenced for this route.
Likely buyer types
Importers · Processors and re-packers · Wholesalers and distributors
FishMatch guidance from the product forms on this route; not evidence of named buyers or buying relationships.
European Union import rules
- Applies to: All shrimpVerified
The exporting country must be listed for fishery products (Regulation 2021/405, Annex IX), and the plant, cold store or vessel must be on the EU list of approved establishments. Each consignment needs the official health certificate.
Official source: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405, consolidated 3 September 2026 (EUR-Lex)
- Applies to: Farmed shrimpVerified
The country must also have an approved residue control plan for aquaculture products (Annex -I of the same regulation). Check the commodity column and its footnotes, not just the country name.
Official source: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405, consolidated 3 September 2026 (EUR-Lex)
- Applies to: All shrimpVerified
The importer pre-notifies each consignment with a CHED-P in TRACES at an EU border control post.
Official source: European Commission — TRACES modules (CHED)
- Applies to: Wild-caught shrimp, raw and preparedVerified
An IUU catch certificate is required; aquaculture products obtained from fry or larvae are excluded (Regulation 1005/2008, Annex I). Since 10 January 2026 catch documents must be submitted through the CATCH system.
Official source: Regulation (EC) 1005/2008 on IUU fishing (EUR-Lex)
- Current eligibility of the origin country, the named processing establishment and the product form for European Union.
- Tariff classification, duties and importer registration — confirmed by your customs broker.
EU import checks with links to the official authority.
Cold chain and logistics
- Ask whether the lot was frozen on board or processed on land, and for the vessel and FAO catch area on the documents.
- Agree the reefer set-point, a data logger per container and who downloads it at discharge; reject or claim against temperature excursions in writing.
- Ask for glaze percentage and net (de-glazed) weight on the carton and the invoice, then check both on arrival.
- Plan cold-store capacity at the discharge port before the vessel arrives; for standalone cold storage, see ColdMatch Group.
- EU hygiene rules require frozen fishery products to be kept at not more than −18 °C in all parts of the product, and transported at an even −18 °C with short upward fluctuations of no more than 3 °C.
EU temperature rule: Regulation (EC) 853/2004, Annex III, Section VIII — fishery products (EUR-Lex) (read 23 October 2026). Other points are FishMatch guidance.
Standalone cold storage or reefer logistics? ColdMatch Group
Request checklist for this route
Tick what you can already state. Items you can't answer yet are fine; our team asks before any producer is approached.
The form opens with Argentina and European Union filled in. A person reviews every request; buyers and producers stay confidential to each other. FishMatch coordinates sourcing and does not produce, certify, inspect or guarantee products.
FAQ — Argentina shrimp for European Union
- How do I source frozen shrimp from Argentina for European Union?
- Write one specification first: species, farmed or wild-caught, product form, count/size, glazing, packing, annual or seasonal volume, destination port, delivery window and the certificates your buyer requires. FishMatch reviews requests for annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more, free for buyers, and approaches screened producers on your behalf — there is no direct buyer–supplier contact.
- What must be verified before importing into European Union?
- Whether the origin country, the specific processing establishment and the product form are currently eligible for European Union, which official certificates and catch or production documents each lot needs, and labelling and residue rules. Check current official listings and your customs broker; a country appearing in trade statistics does not mean any particular plant is approved.
- Is there a price or transit time for this route?
- No price, volume or transit time is published here because none has been verified for this route. Offers depend on size, form, glazing, packing, Incoterms, timing and exchange rates; a reviewed RFQ returns comparable offers with their dates.
- How much shrimp moves on this route?
- 2024: HS 030613 exports: Spain US$330 million, 55,839 t; Italy US$142 million, 22,051 t. Source: WITS / UN Comtrade — Argentina 2024 exports of HS 030613 by partner (HS 1988/92). This is a historical customs value, not current demand or a supplier's capacity.