Import market guide
European Union seafood imports: 2024 figures, import rules and EU-listed establishments
Short answer: the EU was the largest importer of HS 03 seafood in 2024 (US$25.15 billion) and imported US$3.48 billion (531,063 t) of frozen shrimp. Selling into the EU needs an authorised exporting country, an establishment on the EU list, an official health certificate and a CHED pre-notification in TRACES at an EU border control post.
Data year 2024 · trade figures checked 21 October 2026 · EU listings checked 23 October 2026
2024 import figures
EU figures are aggregates: member states such as Spain, France and Italy are already inside them and must not be added on top.
| Flow | 2024 value | Quantity | Read with care |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 03 fish, crustaceans and molluscs | US$25.15 billion | — | All aquatic products, not shrimp-only. |
| HS 030613 frozen shrimp and prawns | US$3.48 billion | 531,063 t | |
| HS 160520 prepared or preserved shrimp | US$658 million | 81,050 t | Cooked or breaded; outside HS 03. |
| HS 030212 fresh or chilled salmon | US$7.09 billion | 849,957 t | Whole fish only. |
WITS / UN Comtrade — 2024 imports, HS 030613 frozen shrimps and prawns, all reporters · WITS / UN Comtrade — 2024 imports, HS 160520 prepared or preserved shrimps and prawns · WITS / UN Comtrade — 2024 imports, HS 030212 fresh or chilled Pacific, Atlantic and Danube salmon
| Partner | 2024 value | Quantity | Read with care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | US$1.16 billion | — | Quantity not reported in this table. |
| France | US$733 million | 107,827 t | |
| Italy | US$607 million | 84,904 t |
| Partner | 2024 value | Quantity | Read with care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | US$339 million | 67,164 t | |
| Italy | US$292 million | 42,546 t | |
| France | US$231 million | 41,872 t |
EU import rules for fishery products
- The exporting country must be authorised by the EU for the product category, and the producing establishment must appear on the EU list of authorised non-EU establishments.
- Each consignment travels with the official health certificate model for the product and enters through an EU border control post, where it is pre-notified and checked using a Common Health Entry Document (CHED) in TRACES.
- Traceability from establishment to consignment is required; wild-caught fishery products also need a catch certificate under the EU's illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing rules.
- EU entry conditions
- Authorised non-EU establishments
- TRACES
- Access2Markets: animal products
- EU IUU fishing rules
General orientation, not legal or import advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the official authority and your customs broker.
EU-listed fishery establishments in the main shrimp origins
To export fishery products to the EU, a processing plant, cold store or vessel must appear on the EU list for its country. The counts below come from the European Commission's TRACES NT listings.
| Origin | Listed establishments | By activity | List updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecuador | 284 | Processing plant 170 · Freezer vessel 111 · Freezer vessel (tuna in brine) 14 · Cold store 3 | 22 October 2026 |
| India | 623 | Processing plant 545 · Cold store 78 | 22 October 2026 |
| Indonesia | 173 | Processing plant 173 | 11 September 2026 |
| Argentina | 408 | Freezer vessel 184 · Processing plant 150 · Factory vessel 49 · Cold store 27 | 29 September 2026 |
| Thailand | 296 | Processing plant 232 · Cold store 58 · Reefer vessel 6 | 16 July 2026 |
| Viet Nam | 517 | Processing plant 493 · Cold store 24 | 27 August 2026 |
| China | 1,630 | Processing plant 992 · Freezer vessel 577 · Reefer vessel 40 · Cold store 14 · Factory vessel 8 | 17 September 2026 |
| Norway | 1,059 | Fresh fishery products plant 623 · Processing plant 405 · Factory vessel 227 · Freezer vessel 83 · Reefer vessel 24 · Wholesale market 1 | 15 October 2026 |
One establishment can be listed for more than one activity, so activity counts can add up to more than the total. Norway is in the European Economic Area, so its establishments are approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and appear on the EEA-side listing rather than the third-country list.
Approvals can change: establishments are added, suspended and removed, and these counts are a snapshot read on 23 October 2026. A listing covers fishery products in general — it does not name species or show that a plant handles frozen shrimp — and it does not replace other requirements such as health certificates or IUU catch certificates. FishMatch does not republish establishment names and does not imply any listed plant is a FishMatch supplier. Before contracting, check the live list and the exact approval number, and our team checks named plants during each request review.
What to verify before you buy
- The exporting country is authorised for the product category and the plant's approval number is on the current EU list.
- The correct official health certificate model for the product, issued for each consignment.
- Pre-notification by CHED in TRACES and the border control post of entry.
- For wild-caught product, the IUU catch certificate from the flag state.
- Ask for the count basis (per lb or per kg), glaze declaration and net weight on every offer so quotes are comparable.
Request a reviewed sourcing round
Free for buyers, for annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more. A person reviews every request before any producer is approached; buyers and suppliers stay confidential to each other and there is no direct contact. FishMatch Group coordinates sourcing and does not produce, certify, inspect or guarantee products.
Questions
- Can I add Spain's imports to the EU total?
- No. Spain is an EU member state, so its imports are already inside the EU aggregate. Adding them double-counts.
- Does an EU listing mean a plant can supply frozen shrimp?
- Not by itself. The EU list covers fishery products in general and does not state species. It shows the plant may export fishery products to the EU; product, certificates and lot documents still have to be checked.
- Does FishMatch import into the EU?
- No. FishMatch is a buyer-first sourcing service: our team reviews requests and relays offers. It does not own stock, import, inspect or certify product.
Sources
- WITS / UN Comtrade — 2024 imports, HS 03 (fish, crustaceans, molluscs), all reporters
- WITS / UN Comtrade — 2024 imports, HS 030613 frozen shrimps and prawns, all reporters
- WITS / UN Comtrade — 2024 imports, HS 160520 prepared or preserved shrimps and prawns
- WITS / UN Comtrade — 2024 imports, HS 030212 fresh or chilled Pacific, Atlantic and Danube salmon
- WITS / UN Comtrade — Ecuador 2024 exports of HS 030613 by partner
- European Commission — TRACES NT establishment lists