Imports into the UK
In 2024, Import trends varied by species and trading partner, with notable growth from countries like Ecuador, Canada, and Vietnam, while imports from traditional suppliers like Norway and the EU declined.
Top 5 countries (value)
- Norway – £701m (+1%)
- Iceland – £388m (+6%)
- China – £297m (-5%)
- Vietnam – £243m (+7%)
- Netherlands – £177m (-18%)
Total imports: £3,839m (+2%)
Top 5 countries (volume-live weight tonnes)
- China – 181,699 (+6%)
- Norway – 131,613 (-4%)
- Iceland – 105,016 (+13%)
- Netherlands – 78,803 (-8%)
- Vietnam – 78,186 (+10%)
Total imports: 1,165,663 tonnes (+4%)
Wild-caught whitefish remains the top category of species imported to the UK, accounting for 35% of seafood import supply by volume
Top 5 species (value)
- 1. Salmon – £743m (-1%)
- 2. Shrimps and Prawns – £580m (+2%)
- 3. Cod – £486m (-7%)
- 4. Tuna – £464m (+12%)
- 5. Haddock – £196m (-1%)
Total imports: 3,839m (+2%)
Top 5 species (volume-live weight tonnes)
- 1. Tuna – 223,228 (+15%)
- 2. Cod – 191,555 (-1%)
- 3. Salmon – 121,222 (+4%)
- 4. Shrimp and Prawns – 110,163 (+7%)
- 5. Haddock – 105,747 (+5%)
Total imports: 1,165,663 tonnes (+4%)
Data notes and sources
Landings
Data Source: Marine Management Organisation.
Reference: MMO monthly landings statistics
Click here to view the dataFleet economic performance
Data source: Seafish
Reference: Seafish Fleet Enquiry Tool
Click here to view the dataNote that 2024 performance and landings data is provisional
Aquaculture production
Data Source: Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture (CEFAS)
Reference: Data supplied directly to Seafish
Trade (Imports and Exports)
Data Source: HMRC monthly data via Business Trade Statistics (BTS), processed by Seafish.
Reference: Seafish Trade and Tariff Tool
Click here to view the dataNote that 2024 trade data is provisional
Processing
Retail data
NielsenIQ ScanTrack data to 52 week ending 30/12/2024; Reference - Monthly Retail Report 52
week ending (w/e) data to 30.12.24; Click here to view the report; Click here to view the factsheets.
Foodservice data
Circana data to year end December 2024; Reference - 2024 Q4 NPD Data Sheet; Click here to view the report; Click here to view the factsheets.