Italy: seafood imports by origin, product and production method
Import market context
Italy reported USD 645 million of seafood imports (HS 03, 1604, 1605) from India, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Colombia combined in 2024, on UN Comtrade figures retrieved 25 Oct 2026. As an EU member state, Italy applies EU import conditions: the exporting country and establishment must be on the EU lists and each consignment needs an official health certificate. Customs values show historical trade, not current demand or prices.
Italy origin map: seafood from India, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Colombia
Answer first: on its own 2024 customs figures, Italy imported seafood worth USD 359 million from Ecuador, USD 166 million from India and USD 58.9 million from Colombia, plus smaller flows from Peru and Kenya. The largest single line is frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns from Ecuador (USD 231 million). A flow shows product cleared customs; it is not an approval for any supplier or lot.
Values: USD million, imports reported by Italy to UN Comtrade (HS 2022, six-digit lines in chapters 03, 1604 and 1605), 2024, retrieved 25 Oct 2026. "Farmed" or "wild" comes from what is known about the species and origin, not from the customs code, which does not record production method.
| Origin | 2024 | 2023 | Status | Origin-reported 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 166 | 171 | Established flow (USD 10 million or more) | 164 |
| Ecuador | 359 | 366 | Established flow (USD 10 million or more) | 412 |
| Peru | 55.6 | 56.8 | Established flow (USD 10 million or more) | 50.1 |
| Kenya | 5.3 | 7.8 | Small flow (USD 0.5–10 million) | 4.8 |
| Colombia | 58.9 | 56.5 | Established flow (USD 10 million or more) | 4.3 |
"Origin-reported 2024" is what the origin declared as exports to Italy (HS 03, 1604, 1605). Importer and exporter figures differ because of timing, valuation (CIF vs FOB) and transhipment.
From India: USD 166 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030743 | Frozen squid and cuttlefish | 105 | 20,609 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 030617 | Frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns | 42.3 | 8,334 | Farmed and wild — India exports farmed vannamei and black tiger as well as wild-caught shrimp; the HS code does not say which — specify species and method per lot. |
| 030752 | Frozen octopus | 10.8 | 2,607 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 030489 | Frozen fish fillets, other species | 1.9 | 350 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 030357 | Fish; frozen, swordfish (Xiphias gladius), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edibl | 1.3 | 336 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 160420 | Prepared fish, other forms | 0.83 | 257 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
Largest 6 of 28 product lines shown.
From Ecuador: USD 359 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030617 | Frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns | 231 | 38,929 | Farmed (by species/origin) — Ecuador's shrimp exports are predominantly farmed whiteleg shrimp (FAO GLOBEFISH); the HS code does not record method — confirm per lot. |
| 160414 | Prepared tuna, skipjack and bonito | 116 | 17,886 | Wild-caught — Tuna is wild-caught (some bluefin is ranched). |
| 030487 | Frozen tuna fillets and meat | 4.7 | 641 | Wild-caught — Tuna is wild-caught (some bluefin is ranched). |
| 160415 | Prepared or preserved mackerel | 4.0 | 444 | Wild-caught — Sardines, anchovies and mackerel are wild-caught small pelagic species. |
| 160529 | Prepared shrimp, in airtight containers | 1.3 | 115 | Farmed (by species/origin) — Ecuador's shrimp exports are predominantly farmed whiteleg shrimp (FAO GLOBEFISH); the HS code does not record method — confirm per lot. |
| 030484 | Fish fillets; frozen, swordfish (Xiphias gladius) | 0.96 | 156 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
Largest 6 of 10 product lines shown.
From Peru: USD 55.6 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030743 | Frozen squid and cuttlefish | 24.9 | 8,556 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 160414 | Prepared tuna, skipjack and bonito | 5.8 | 608 | Wild-caught — Tuna is wild-caught (some bluefin is ranched). |
| 030539 | Dried or salted fish fillets, other species | 4.7 | 480 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 160554 | Prepared or preserved squid and cuttlefish | 4.3 | 825 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 030752 | Frozen octopus | 4.1 | 613 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 160416 | Prepared or preserved anchovies | 3.9 | 326 | Wild-caught — Sardines, anchovies and mackerel are wild-caught small pelagic species. |
Largest 6 of 17 product lines shown.
From Kenya: USD 5.3 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030752 | Frozen octopus | 3.3 | 551 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 030433 | Fresh or chilled Nile perch fillets | 0.83 | 105 | Wild-caught — Nile perch is a Lake Victoria capture fishery species. |
| 030463 | Frozen Nile perch fillets | 0.51 | 80 | Wild-caught — Nile perch is a Lake Victoria capture fishery species. |
| 030389 | Frozen fish, other species | 0.19 | 38 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 030619 | Frozen crustaceans, other | 0.18 | 12 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 030611 | Frozen rock lobster | 0.16 | 7 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
Largest 6 of 12 product lines shown.
From Colombia: USD 58.9 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160414 | Prepared tuna, skipjack and bonito | 58.8 | 9,423 | Wild-caught — Tuna is wild-caught (some bluefin is ranched). |
| 030617 | Frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns | 0.11 | 22 | Not recorded — The HS code does not record whether shrimp were farmed or wild-caught — confirm per lot. |
| 030111 | Live freshwater ornamental fish (not food) | 0.02 | — | Not food — Ornamental fish — not food; outside seafood sourcing. |
Origin strength: what India and Ecuador export
- India exported 1,698,170 t of seafood worth USD 7.45 billion in fiscal 2024-25, two-thirds of it frozen shrimp (USD 5.18 billion). By value the United States (USD 2.71 billion), China (USD 1.28 billion), the European Union (USD 1.13 billion), South-East Asia (USD 975 million), Japan (USD 412 million) and the Middle East (USD 278 million) were the main destinations. MPEDA press release, 9 July 2025 (PDF)
- Ecuador's 2024 frozen shrimp exports (HS 030613, Ecuador-reported) went mainly to China (USD 2.92 billion), United States (USD 1.42 billion), Spain (USD 339 million), Italy (USD 292 million), France (USD 231 million). WITS / UN Comtrade — Ecuador 2024 exports of HS 030613 by partner
Exporters that name Italy as a market
Our team keeps a private, source-linked file of seafood exporters and processors in the five origins. The counts below show how many of them say on their own websites that they sell to Italy. These are the companies' own statements, checked on 25 Oct 2026. They are not shipment records and not approval for Italy. Names stay private and are shared only through a reviewed request.
| Origin | Exporters researched | Name Italy | Say "EU" only |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Ecuador | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Peru | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Kenya | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Colombia | 5 | 0 | 0 |
A zero means no statement was found, not that the company does not sell there. Certifications listed by these companies were not checked in certifier databases.
Verified, not verified and hypotheses
- Verified: the customs-reported values and tonnages above, for the year shown.
- Not verified here: whether a given producer, plant or lot is currently eligible for Italy (check the EU list of authorised establishments); prices; current demand.
- Hypothesis to test in the RFQ: that importers and processors already buying these lines would compare a further origin on the same specification. Trade data shows what was bought, not who would switch.
- Colombia: any Colombia line above is a customs flow only; exporter-level validation for Italy is still open, so treat Colombian supply as unconfirmed until a supplier's documents are checked.
Where to check Italy's import rules
- European Commission — EU entry conditions for food of animal origin
- European Commission — Non-EU countries' authorised establishments
- Ministero della Salute
General information, not legal advice. The importer of record and the exporter confirm the current requirements for each product and origin with the authorities.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers — for example Ecuadorian bananas, Peruvian produce or Kenyan horticulture — are outside FishMatch's seafood and aquaculture scope. Source commodities through Global B2B Group.
Compare these origins on one specification
Free for buyers. For annual or seasonal programmes of USD 250,000 or more. Our team reviews every request and approaches producers and exporters privately; buyers and suppliers are not put in direct contact, and we do not guarantee supply, price or approvals. FishMatch Group is a sourcing intermediary — not a producer, exporter, importer or certifier.
Send a request with Italy as destinationQuestions about Italy
- Which of India, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Colombia ship seafood to Italy?
- on its own 2024 customs figures, Italy imported seafood worth USD 359 million from Ecuador, USD 166 million from India and USD 58.9 million from Colombia, plus smaller flows from Peru and Kenya. The largest single line is frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns from Ecuador (USD 231 million). A flow shows product cleared customs; it is not an approval for any supplier or lot.
- Is the shrimp Italy imports from Ecuador and India farmed?
- Customs codes do not record production method. Ecuador's shrimp exports are predominantly farmed whiteleg shrimp (FAO GLOBEFISH); India exports farmed vannamei and black tiger as well as some wild-caught shrimp. In 2024 Italy reported USD 359 million of seafood from Ecuador and USD 166 million from India. Specify species and method per lot.
- Does a trade flow mean a supplier can export to Italy?
- No. Each shipment must meet Italy's import conditions, including an EU-listed establishment and health certificate. The importer of record and exporter confirm current requirements with the authorities listed on this page.
- Is the sourcing service free?
- Yes for buyers. Managed requests are for annual or seasonal programmes of at least USD 250,000. FishMatch Group is a sourcing intermediary, not a producer, exporter, importer or certifier, and does not guarantee supply, price or approvals.
Sources: UN Comtrade — importer- and origin-reported trade, HS 2022 (retrieved 25 Oct 2026) · FAO GLOBEFISH — Shifts in the global shrimp trade and production (29 Aug 2025) · MPEDA press release, 9 July 2025 (PDF) · FAO — National Aquaculture Sector Overview: Peru · European Union seafood trade data guide · All 15 markets ranked
Why source through FishMatch Group instead of alone
Answer first: a qualified importer sends one specification and receives offers from several screened producers and exporters, compared on the same basis — without disclosing its identity to every supplier. The buyer service is free; benefits below are possible outcomes, not guarantees.
- One written specification instead of separate conversations with each exporter, so offers can be compared line by line.
- Several origins on the same request — for example India and Ecuador for farmed shrimp — so price, size grading and documents can be compared side by side.
- Document checks before an offer is shared: establishment listing, health certificate and, for wild-caught product, catch documentation.
- Your company name stays private until you decide to proceed; suppliers do not contact you directly.
- Our team reviews every request; we are a sourcing intermediary, not a producer, exporter, importer or certifier.
Specification template for a Italy request
Answer first: fill one line per product. These are the fields producers need to quote comparably; set them against the product lines Italy imported in 2024, shown above.
| Field | What to write |
|---|---|
| Species (common and scientific name) | e.g. whiteleg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei |
| Farmed or wild-caught | state it per lot — customs codes do not record it |
| Product form | e.g. frozen raw, headless shell-on, peeled and deveined, IQF or block |
| Size or count | e.g. 31/40 pieces per lb, or fillet weight range |
| Glaze and net weight | glaze percentage and whether price is per net weight |
| Packing and labelling | inner and master carton, language of labels |
| Volume and frequency | tonnes per shipment and per year (programmes of USD 250,000 or more) |
| Destination and Incoterm | port of discharge in Italy, e.g. CFR or FOB |
| Delivery window | first shipment date and frequency |
| Documents required | see the checklist below |
Quality and traceability documents to check for Italy
Answer first: ask for these before contracting. Each item links to the official source; requirements change, so the importer of record and the exporter confirm them for the exact product and origin.
- Verify the exporting country and relevant seafood establishments appear on applicable EU authorised lists. (Farmed and wild) European Commission — Non-EU countries authorised establishments
- Obtain the applicable official health certificate for third-country fishery-product consignments. (Farmed and wild) European Commission — FAQs: Certification
- Pre-notify the EU entry border control post through TRACES using CHED-P Part I and obtain the authority’s entry decision. (Farmed and wild) European Commission — TRACES modules and features
- Submit flag-state-validated catch certification through CATCH for covered marine wild-caught products; aquaculture products obtained from fry or larvae are excluded. (Wild-caught only) European Commission — Illegal fishing
Sources checked 25 Oct 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Cold chain: what the standards say
Answer first: Codex standards set the reference points below. Transit times, routes and freight rates for Italy are not sourced on this page; ask for them in the request.
- "The quick freezing process shall not be regarded as complete unless and until the product temperature has reached –18 °C (0 °F) or lower at the thermal centre after thermal stabilization." Codex CXC 52-2003 — Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products, freezing-process definition
- "The quick-freezing process shall not be regarded as complete unless and until the product temperature has reached -18 ºC or colder at the thermal centre after thermal stabilization." Codex CXS 92-1981 — Standard for Quick-Frozen Shrimps or Prawns, section 2.2
Questions from Italy buyers
- How do I request offers for Italy?
- Send one request with your specification and Italy as destination. Our team reviews it, approaches suitable producers and exporters privately and shares comparable offers. It is free for buyers.
- Is there a minimum?
- Managed requests are for annual or seasonal programmes of at least USD 250,000. Smaller requests are saved and pointed to free tools.
- Will suppliers contact me directly?
- No. Communication is mediated by our team, and your company name stays private until you decide to proceed.
Products and forms
The largest lines from these origins were frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns from Ecuador (USD 231 million; farmed by species and origin); prepared tuna, skipjack and bonito from Ecuador (USD 116 million; wild-caught); frozen squid and cuttlefish from India (USD 105 million; wild-caught); prepared tuna, skipjack and bonito from Colombia (USD 58.8 million; wild-caught). Specify species by scientific name and production method for each lot — customs codes do not record whether product was farmed.
Sourcing: what to specify
Write one specification per product — species by scientific name, farmed or wild, form, size or count, glaze and net weight, packing, volume, frequency, destination port and delivery window — so offers from different origins can be compared line by line.
Sources
Request a private sourcing review
Free for buyers. For annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more. Our team reviews every request; introductions happen only after review and supplier identities stay private until then. No supply, price or compliance guarantees.