Spain was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Carp is a freshwater fish farmed and caught for food, mainly in pond aquaculture. Buyers are wholesalers, retailers and food service operators.
Typical segments
- Live carp
- Fresh or chilled carp
- Frozen carp
- Carp fillets
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 030193 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.
GCC and Africa
Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.
Why this market is moving now
- Demand is concentrated: one country took a large share of the region's reported imports.
About the data
Figures are customs import values (CIF, US dollars) that 8 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 030193 (Live carp "Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys). Each country's latest reported year is used: Cote d'Ivoire 2023, Ghana 2025, Kuwait 2025, Nigeria 2023, Oman 2023, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia, Egypt, Tanzania.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
Supplier figures add up the partner breakdown that the largest importing countries reported for their latest year. Partner areas that the reporters did not specify are left out of the list.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 03019300 (Live carp "Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys), the code used on the EU page for this market. Shares, changes and per-kilogram values are calculated from these figures. No figure on this page is a forecast.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs data from 8 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $2.6 million under HS code 030193 (Live carp "Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys) in their latest year with data (2025 for 4 countries and 2023 for 4). | 2.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $2.5 million in 2025, or 95% of the total. | 2.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $108 thousand in 2025. | 108 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 4 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $2.5 million, or 96% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 2.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 4 African countries with data accounted for $116 thousand, or 4% of the total. | 116 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Spain was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 100% of its reported imports, with $1.6 million, or 61% of their imports under HS 030193 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 1.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 030193 was $37.28 per kilogram across the 8 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 37.28 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 03019300 (Live carp "Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys) to the 1 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1 thousand in 2021. | 1 EUR thousand | 2021 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 03019300 in 2021, at €1 thousand. | 1 EUR thousand | 2021 | Eurostat |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
cmdCode=030193 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=18769; CIV2023=2543; GHA2025=1215; KWT2025=2950; NGA2023=3580; OMN2023=239; SAU2025=2491655; ZAF2025=108302; sum=2629253
- Figure 2
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 030193, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2491655; share of 2629253 = 95%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 030193, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 108302
- Figure 4
cmdCode 030193, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE KWT OMN SAU = 2513613; share 96%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 030193, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV GHA NGA ZAF = 115640; share 4% (shown as 116 USD thousand)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 030193, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 2629253 / sum of netWgt 70524 kg = 37.28 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 030193, flowCode M, partnerCode 724, primaryValue summed over reporters = 1605994; world 2618726; share 61%
- Figure 6
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03019300, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2021: AE=893; sum 893
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03019300, partner AE, flow export, 2021, VALUE_IN_EUROS 893
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Fish wholesalers
- Retail and supermarket chains
- Restaurants and caterers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa carp market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $2.6 million under HS code 030193 by 8 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most carp?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import carp from?
Spain was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included France and Japan.
How do GCC and African imports of carp compare?
The GCC countries with data took $2.5 million, or 96% of the total, and the African countries with data took $116 thousand, or 4%, each in its latest reported year.
How much carp does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 03019300 to the countries covered of €1 thousand in 2021. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of carp in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $37.28 per kilogram for HS 030193, across the countries that reported weight.
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