Mexico: seafood imports by origin, product and production method
Import market context
Mexico reported USD 45.2 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. Customs values show historical trade, not current demand or prices.
Mexico origin map: seafood from India, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Colombia
Answer first: on its own 2024 customs figures, Mexico imported seafood worth USD 25.3 million from Ecuador, USD 19.6 million from Peru and USD 0.26 million from India. The largest single line is prepared or preserved sardines from Ecuador (USD 25.3 million). No food seafood flow was reported from Kenya or Colombia. A flow shows product cleared customs; it is not an approval for any supplier or lot.
Values: USD million, imports reported by Mexico 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 | 0.26 | 0.00 | Minor flow (under USD 0.5 million) | 2.0 |
| Ecuador | 25.3 | 19.4 | Established flow (USD 10 million or more) | 21.8 |
| Peru | 19.6 | 30.6 | Established flow (USD 10 million or more) | 26.1 |
| Kenya | 0.00 | 0.00 | No food seafood flow reported | 0.00 |
| Colombia | 0.00 | 0.00 | No food seafood flow reported | 0.23 |
"Origin-reported 2024" is what the origin declared as exports to Mexico (HS 03, 1604, 1605). Importer and exporter figures differ because of timing, valuation (CIF vs FOB) and transhipment.
From India: USD 0.26 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160420 | Prepared fish, other forms | 0.26 | 55 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
From Ecuador: USD 25.3 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160413 | Prepared or preserved sardines | 25.3 | 11,112 | Wild-caught — Sardines, anchovies and mackerel are wild-caught small pelagic species. |
From Peru: USD 19.6 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030743 | Frozen squid and cuttlefish | 11.9 | 4,465 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 030752 | Frozen octopus | 7.7 | 1,243 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
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 Mexico 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 Mexico. These are the companies' own statements, checked on 25 Oct 2026. They are not shipment records and not approval for Mexico. Names stay private and are shared only through a reviewed request.
| Origin | Exporters researched | Name Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| India | 6 | 0 |
| Ecuador | 8 | 0 |
| Peru | 8 | 1 |
| Kenya | 4 | 0 |
| Colombia | 5 | 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 Mexico; 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 Mexico is still open, so treat Colombian supply as unconfirmed until a supplier's documents are checked.
Where to check Mexico's import rules
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 Mexico as destinationQuestions about Mexico
- Which of India, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Colombia ship seafood to Mexico?
- on its own 2024 customs figures, Mexico imported seafood worth USD 25.3 million from Ecuador, USD 19.6 million from Peru and USD 0.26 million from India. The largest single line is prepared or preserved sardines from Ecuador (USD 25.3 million). No food seafood flow was reported from Kenya or Colombia. A flow shows product cleared customs; it is not an approval for any supplier or lot.
- Is the shrimp Mexico 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 Mexico reported USD 25.3 million of seafood from Ecuador and USD 0.26 million from India. Specify species and method per lot.
- Does a trade flow mean a supplier can export to Mexico?
- No. Each shipment must meet Mexico's import conditions. 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 · 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 Mexico request
Answer first: fill one line per product. These are the fields producers need to quote comparably; set them against the product lines Mexico 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 Mexico, 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 Mexico
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.
- Consult SENASICA’s commodity, origin and use-specific import requirements before shipment; obtain the stipulated supporting sanitary documentation. (Farmed and wild) SENASICA — Módulo de consulta de requisitos acuícolas y pesqueros
- For SENASICA-regulated aquatic commodities, obtain the aquatic health import certificate through VUCEM and the entry-point inspection office. (Farmed and wild) VUCEM/SENASICA — Certificado de Sanidad Acuícola para Importación
- After favourable documentary review, submit the VUCEM physical-inspection request with entry-point and customs declaration details. (Farmed and wild) VUCEM/SENASICA — Certificado de Sanidad Acuícola para Importación
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 Mexico 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 Mexico buyers
- How do I request offers for Mexico?
- Send one request with your specification and Mexico 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 prepared or preserved sardines from Ecuador (USD 25.3 million; wild-caught); frozen squid and cuttlefish from Peru (USD 11.9 million; wild-caught); frozen octopus from Peru (USD 7.7 million; wild-caught); prepared fish, other forms from India (USD 0.26 million; method not recorded). 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.