Qatar: seafood imports by origin, product and production method
Import market context
Qatar reported USD 9.6 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.
Qatar origin map: seafood from India, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Colombia
Answer first: on its own 2024 customs figures, Qatar imported seafood worth USD 6.6 million from India, USD 2.9 million from Ecuador and USD 0.09 million from Peru, plus smaller flows from Kenya. The largest single line is frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns from India (USD 3.9 million). No food seafood flow was reported from Colombia. A flow shows product cleared customs; it is not an approval for any supplier or lot.
Values: USD million, imports reported by Qatar 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 | 6.6 | 4.2 | Small flow (USD 0.5–10 million) | 6.8 |
| Ecuador | 2.9 | 1.4 | Small flow (USD 0.5–10 million) | 4.7 |
| Peru | 0.09 | 0.06 | Minor flow (under USD 0.5 million) | 0.00 |
| Kenya | 0.07 | 0.03 | Minor flow (under USD 0.5 million) | 0.03 |
| Colombia | 0.00 | 0.00 | No food seafood flow reported | 0.00 |
"Origin-reported 2024" is what the origin declared as exports to Qatar (HS 03, 1604, 1605). Importer and exporter figures differ because of timing, valuation (CIF vs FOB) and transhipment.
From India: USD 6.6 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030617 | Frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns | 3.9 | 770 | 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. |
| 030616 | Frozen cold-water shrimp and prawns | 0.76 | 104 | 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. |
| 030359 | Frozen fish of other families (e.g. mackerel types) | 0.36 | 334 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 030743 | Frozen squid and cuttlefish | 0.30 | 96 | Wild-caught — Squid, cuttlefish and octopus in this trade are wild-caught. |
| 030712 | Molluscs; oysters, whether in shell or not, frozen | 0.24 | 49 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 030323 | Frozen whole tilapia | 0.20 | 179 | Farmed (by species/origin) — Tilapia in international trade is overwhelmingly farmed (FAO); the HS code does not record method — confirm per lot. |
Largest 6 of 25 product lines shown.
From Ecuador: USD 2.9 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030617 | Frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns | 2.5 | 488 | 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. |
| 030616 | Frozen cold-water shrimp and prawns | 0.33 | 74 | 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. |
From Peru: USD 0.09 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160432 | Caviar substitutes | 0.05 | 2 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 160416 | Prepared or preserved anchovies | 0.03 | 2 | Wild-caught — Sardines, anchovies and mackerel are wild-caught small pelagic species. |
From Kenya: USD 0.07 million in 2024
| HS | Product | USD m | Tonnes | Farmed or wild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 030549 | Fish; smoked, whether or not cooked before or during smoking, n.e.c. in item no. 0305.4, i | 0.07 | 16 | Not recorded — Species and production method are not identified by this HS line — confirm per offer. |
| 030111 | Live freshwater ornamental fish (not food) | 0.01 | — | 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 Qatar 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 Qatar. These are the companies' own statements, checked on 25 Oct 2026. They are not shipment records and not approval for Qatar. Names stay private and are shared only through a reviewed request.
| Origin | Exporters researched | Name Qatar |
|---|---|---|
| India | 6 | 0 |
| Ecuador | 8 | 0 |
| Peru | 8 | 0 |
| 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 Qatar; 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 Qatar is still open, so treat Colombian supply as unconfirmed until a supplier's documents are checked.
Where to check Qatar'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 Qatar as destinationQuestions about Qatar
- Which of India, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Colombia ship seafood to Qatar?
- on its own 2024 customs figures, Qatar imported seafood worth USD 6.6 million from India, USD 2.9 million from Ecuador and USD 0.09 million from Peru, plus smaller flows from Kenya. The largest single line is frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns from India (USD 3.9 million). No food seafood flow was reported from Colombia. A flow shows product cleared customs; it is not an approval for any supplier or lot.
- Is the shrimp Qatar 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 Qatar reported USD 2.9 million of seafood from Ecuador and USD 6.6 million from India. Specify species and method per lot.
- Does a trade flow mean a supplier can export to Qatar?
- No. Each shipment must meet Qatar'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 Qatar request
Answer first: fill one line per product. These are the fields producers need to quote comparably; set them against the product lines Qatar 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 Qatar, 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 Qatar
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.
- Obtain a shipment-specific health certificate issued by the competent authority of the origin or exporting country. (Farmed and wild) Qatar MOPH — Food Importers Guide
- Submit the required registration form, customs declaration copy and contents list for imported-food documentary checks. (Farmed and wild) Qatar MOPH — Food Importers Guide
- Register imported food items electronically before importation and retain the product registration notice. (Farmed and wild) Qatar MOPH — Request to register a food item
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 Qatar 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 Qatar buyers
- How do I request offers for Qatar?
- Send one request with your specification and Qatar 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 India (USD 3.9 million; farmed and wild); frozen warm-water shrimp and prawns from Ecuador (USD 2.5 million; farmed by species and origin); frozen cold-water shrimp and prawns from India (USD 0.76 million; farmed and wild); frozen fish of other families (e.g. mackerel types) from India (USD 0.36 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.