Seafood Global Trade: Turning the Oceanic Wealth into World’s Favourite Nutrient Gold
When we think of seafood, our minds instantly go to the fish from the oceans. However, seafood is not at all limited to just that. There are approximately tens of thousands of different varieties of seafood available worldwide. If asked in simple terms, seafood is simply sea life in any form that can be eaten by humans. Some of the most common types of seafood include lobster, shrimp, salmon, oysters, and mussels. In Asia, seaweeds and microalgae are widely consumed as sea vegetables. The cultivation and farming of seafood is called aquaculture or fish farming.
The earliest known seafood can be pushed back to around 165,000 years ago, when a bowl full of edible shellfish was found on the southern coast of South Africa. Another evidence of this dates back to the old Stone Age (10,000 to 50,000 years ago), when the skeleton remains of a Tianyuan man from eastern Asia (a 40,000-year-old modern human) were analysed, which showed that he had regularly consumed freshwater fish. Some other discarded fish bones and cave paintings show that seafood had a major role in survival during ancient times.
When you have eaten 2 to 3 servings of shellfish or fish every week, you significantly:
- Lower the risks of stroke, heart disease, and depression
- Improves skin/bone/joint health, sleep quality
- Promotes high IQ in infants if taken during pregnancy
- Strengthens eye health
Despite being the most nutrient-rich food group on Earth, there is still a lot of confusion and myths around the ways of consuming seafood and its benefits. Let's explore whether those are true or false, one query at a time:
| Common confusions about seafood | True/False | Explanation |
| Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid seafood | FALSE | Pregnant or breastfeeding women are encouraged to consume seafood, as a study shows that children developed in this case have an average IQ of 7.7. |
| Children shouldn't eat seafood | FALSE | That’s entirely false. The nutrients, minerals, and vitamins present in seafood significantly help children in their physical and mental development. |
| There are mercury present in seafood | Partially true | In reality, many popular fish found in the ocean, like salmon, shrimp, and cod, do not contain much mercury. And the ones that do are not really dangerous if consumed in the right amount. |
Rising Demand for Seafood Boosting its Global Trade Opportunities
Aquaculture has become an increasing source of seafood, especially between 1996 and 2011. The world's aquaculture grew from 26.7 MT to 63.6 MT during this period. This sector is expected to overtake the capture fisheries production in the coming years, which has already been declining since 2011. Hence, the seafood industry is now reaching heights in every part of the world, when it comes to production, consumption, and trade. The USA is the top importer of seafood, which consumes about 90% of the imported seafood regularly. Now, there are a lot of factors that drive the rising demand for seafood all over the world. Those are as follows:
- Processed or Ready-to-Cook Seafoods: The working population, who are always running short on time, has inclined more towards those kinds of seafood that don't require much time to prepare. This trend has gained a lot of popularity because of growing innovations in product development. Some of the processed seafood is in the form of canned, smoked, or frozen.
- Adoption of Pescetarianism: Some of the most consumed fish (salmon, herring, trout) are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are proven to boost heart and brain health. That is why people are now combining it with a vegetarian diet to improve their health conditions.
- Health benefits: Overall, seafood provides a lot of protein, vitamins, and fatty acids, which are crucial for having a balanced diet. The demand for 3 sub-types of seafood is being consumed the most, which are fish, molluscs, and crustaceans (species include lobsters, shrimps, and crabs). These have low calories and a lot of minerals like sodium, calcium, iron, and others.
The health benefits of seafood is only possible because of the nutrients present in different types of seafood. So, let’s look at the nutrient content of some common seafood mentioned below:
Seafood Type
(3 ounces) | Calories (kcal) | Total Fat (g) | Omega-3’s,
EPA+DHA
(mg) | Saturated Fat
(g) | Sodium
(mg) | Cholesterol
(mg) |
| Salmon | 99 to 180 | 3.67 to 11.41 | 383 to 1825 | 0.79 to 2.59 | 40 to 740 | 20 to 79 |
| Catfish | 101 to 195 | 5.05 to 11.33 | 62 to 290 | 1.11 to 2.79 | 83 to 238 | 47 to 60 |
| Clam and Oyster | 50 to 333 | 0.82 to 19.52 | 26 to 384 | 0.15 to 4.88 | 95 to 688 | 18 to 65 |
| Shrimp | 60 to 206 | 0.86 to 10.44 | 51 to 198 | 0.09 to 1.7 | 292 to 805 | 107 to 179 |
| Pollock | 78 to 243 | 0.83 to 13.29 | 343 to 357 | 0.11 to 3.781 | 73 to 452 | 24 to 68 |
| Tuna | 88 to 168 | 0.70 to 7.87 | 59 to 733 | 0.19 to 1.3 | 31 to 342 | 11 to 40 |
| Crab | 71 to 132 | 0.39 to 6.39 | 143 to 377 | 0.11 to 1.26 | 249 to 911 | 17 to 128 |
| Herring | 134 to 223 | 7.68 to 15.31 | 1181 to 1712 | 1.73 to 2.22 | 76 to 740 | 11 to 65 |
What Seafood Importers Demand from Exporters:
In the highly competitive market of global seafood trades, it is the quality of your seafood that will set you apart from other exporters. Here is what most different types of seafood buyers (like lobster meat buyers, crab meat buyers, or any fresh fish buyers) seek from the suppliers, in terms of the seafood’s quality:
1. Freshness: clear eyers, firm flesh, vibrant colors
2. Odor: mild and ocean-like scents
3. Skin (if present): Shiny and metallic
4. Texture: firm and elastic, free form bruises of discoloration
5. Microbiological testing: free from harmful bacteria (Salmonella)
6. Labeling: accurate species, origin, production method (wild or farmed), expiration dates
7. Traceability: Detailed record of the source
8. Sourcing process: legal and ethical labor
9. Certifications: valid health certificates (FDA Seafood HACCP, FSSAI, etc)
Seafood Types & Other Related Categories in the Global Market
| Seafood Type | Application | Key Characteristics |
| Crab | Water treatment, direct consumption | Hard exoskeletons, ten legs |
| Lobster | Culinary uses, biomedical applications | Segmented bodies, first leg forms large claws |
| Shrimp | Pharmaceuticals, direct consumption | Laterally compressed bodies, long antennae |
| Salmon | Culinary uses, pharmaceutical industry | Anadromous life cycle, streamlined body |
| Clam | Pharmaceutical industry, culinary uses | Slightly sweet flavor, filter feeders |
| Cod | Wastewater treatment, food processing | Mild flavour, white flesh |
| Shellfish | Dietary supplements, direct consumption | Hard shell, locomotory organs |
| Tuna | Hospitality, culinary uses | Streamlined, torpedo-shaped body |
| Oyster | Direct consumption, glass making (oyster’s shell) | Hinged shell, sweet and creamy flavor |
| Scallop | Construction, culinary uses | Fan-shaped, deep ridges |
| Bass | Food processing, direct consumption | Elongated body, two dorsal fins |
| Catfish | Aquarium industry, culinary uses | Scaleless skin, flattened ventral surface |
| Fish | Pharmaceutical industry, culinary uses | Streamlined body shape, covered in scales |
| Monkfish | Insulin production, direct consumption | Flat head, sharp teeth |
| Mussel | Cosmetic industry, biopharmaceutical industry | Bluish-black elongated shell, slightly sweet flavor |
| Octopus | Culinary uses, medicinal purposes | Eight arms, bag-like body |
| Crustaceans | Agriculture industry, cosmetics | Segmented exoskeletons, jointed limbs |
| Haddock | Foodservice, production of smoked fish products | Slightly sweet flavor, flaky white flesh |
| Sardine | Direct consumption, dietary supplements | Silvery, elongated bodies |
| Haliotis | Decorative arts, culinary uses | Ear-shaped shell, meaty texture |
| Anchovies | Fish oil production, nutritional supplements | Small, longitudinal stripe |
| Caviar | Skincare industry, pharmaceutical industry | Buttery, salty flavor |
| Mollusks | Food supplements, jewellery | Soft-bodied animals, slightly chewy taste |
| Eel | Culinary uses, cosmetic industry | Wormlike bodies, no pelvic fin |
As a seafood exporter, you need to make sure that you’re including as many varieties of seafood as possible. To scale up, you can also add other related categories that are a processed form of seafood or related to it in some way. Here is the list of items you can add:
- Include a lot of seafood varieties: Fresh crabs, Fresh scallops, Fish, Fresh Salmon Fish, Shrimps & Prawns, along with others
- Additional Fresh or Chilled Seafood: Frozen Fish, Fresh or Chilled Fish, and Other Frozen Seafood
- Processed seafood: Canned Seafood, Dried Seafood, Canned Fish, along with different types of Frozen Seafood
Key Market Insights on Seafood Export and Import
The global seafood trade industry is evolving every year with the changing consumer preferences, seafood prices, and stricter regulations. Hence, understanding what the future of global trade for this commodity looks like can help you in strategising your business plan. Here is some of the crucial information about the global seafood market:
Global Market Size
| Metric | Value |
| Market Size (2024) | $358.68 billion |
| Expected Market Size (2033) | $837.17 billion |
| CAGR | 10.14% |
Source: Fortune Business Insights
Top Importing Countries for Seafood (2024):
| Country Name | Total shipments |
| US | 8,632 |
| China | 753 |
| Costa Rica | 448 |
Source: Volza
How to Find Verified Seafood Buyers & Importers Near Me and Globally?
Whether you want to sell locally in grocery stores, restaurants, or set up a seafood exporting business. Here are a few of the effective ways through which you can reach global and local markets of seafood:
- B2B platforms: You can sign up on any B2B platforms, such as go4WorldBusiness. This platform lets you sign up for free and send queries to the global verified seafood buyers. You can also connect with buyers through this B2B platform’s community channel.
- Trade fairs: Start attending seafood international trade fairs like Japan International Seafood and Technology Expo, China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, and others. These trade shows have a lot of potential for connecting with a market of verified seafood buyers.
- Social media sites: You should be making a separate account for exporting business at multiple social media sites, like Instagram and Facebook. Make a digital presence of your business by uploading high-quality images and videos of your seafood. You can also follow and chat with the wholesale seafood buyers online through these sites.
- Government and Regulatory Databases: Each country maintains its databases, where you can find a lot of information about the potential buyers. These also provide the information of fellow seafood suppliers, looking at which, you can analyse which variety or processed form of seafood is the most in demand.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):
1. Who is the biggest consumer of seafood?
China is the world’s biggest consumer of seafood.
2. Who is the largest importer of seafood?
The USA, followed by China and Costa Rica, are the largest importers of seafood.
3. What is the most in demand seafood?
Shrimp tops the list of most demanded seafood.
4. Does India export seafood?
Yes, India exports a lot of frozen shrimp to countries like the USA, China, etc.
5. What are the main types of seafood exported from India?
Fish, frozen shrimp, cuttlefish, and squid are some of the seafood types that are exported from India.
6. What is India's rank in global seafood exports?
India stands as the 4th largest exporter of seafood in the world.
7. Which country is rich in seafood?
The country that is rich in seafood is China.
8. What's the most expensive seafood?
Bluefin tuna is considered the most expensive seafood in the world because of its fatty flavor and use in high-end food like sushi.
9. What certifications are required for exporting seafood?
HACCP, ISO certifications, IEC, registration certificate of MPEDA, and FSSAI certification are required when you export seafood.
10. What are some key trends in the global seafood export market?
The seafood export market is growing nonstop, mainly because of the rising focus on sustainability, the growth of aquaculture, and its health benefits.
11. What is the seafood HSN code?
0302 is the HSN code for fresh or chilled fish. At the same time, for frozen fish, it is 0303.
Latest News Related to Seafood Global Trade:
India just recorded a huge surge of 17.81% in its exports of strong shrimp in April 2025. The export value reached $0.58 billion this month. (Full story: Mathrubhumi English)
