China's Position in Global Tilapia Trade
China is the world's largest exporter of tilapia, contributing over 40% of global export volume over the past five years. In 2024 China's tilapia exports reached 389 million US dollars, a 28% increase on 2023, with an average monthly export value of 32 million US dollars.
2024 Export Breakdown
Frozen tilapia under HS 03032300 accounted for 256 million US dollars, or 65.7% of the total, across 137.2 thousand tons at an average of 1.863 US dollars per kilo. Frozen tilapia fillets under HS 03046100 accounted for 110 million US dollars, or 28.4%, across 30.2 thousand tons at an average of 3.653 US dollars per kilo. The top ten destinations took 312 million US dollars, 80.1% of the total, led by Cote d'Ivoire and the EU at 42.7% combined.
First Half of 2025
In the first half of 2025 China exported 238 million US dollars of tilapia, up 59.8% year on year and slightly down 0.7% against the second half of 2024. Frozen tilapia accounted for 163 million US dollars, 68.4%, across 95.5 thousand tons at 1.706 US dollars per kilo. Fillets accounted for 64 million US dollars, 27.1%, across 18.2 thousand tons at 3.532 US dollars per kilo. The top ten markets took 189 million US dollars, 79.6% of the total.
Where the Volume Goes
In the first half of 2025 Cote d'Ivoire took 58.1 million US dollars, 24.4% of the total, at an average of 1.784 US dollars per kilo on frozen whole fish. The European Union took 42.2 million US dollars, 17.7%, split between frozen whole at 14.5 million US dollars at 1.869 per kilo and fillets at 27.7 million US dollars at 3.405 per kilo. Burkina Faso took 22.2 million and Mali 16.3 million. Other notable markets include Hong Kong, Mexico, Cameroon, the UK, DR Congo and the USA.
What the Price Spread Tells a Buyer
Frozen whole tilapia and fillets sit roughly two times apart on price per kilo. That gap, rather than supplier by supplier negotiation, is what should drive the decision between whole fish and fillet for a given market.
