Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Production Trade Reaches $184 bn, Generated by 230 Economic Territories

Oluchi Chibuzor

A recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that trade in aquatic animal products has reached new highs, generating $184 billion across 230 economic territories and now matching the value of terrestrial meat trade.

The data were presented in the FAO’s latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA 2026) during the 11^th Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, where updated global fisheries and aquaculture statistics were released.

SOFIA 2026 offers evidence‑based insights into the challenges, opportunities and solutions shaping the sector today and in the future.

According to the report, “At $184 billion, trade in aquatic animal products continues to hit record highs and now rivals terrestrial meat trade in value. Ensuring sustainable and equitable growth of marine and inland ecosystems, however, remains a key challenge,” the FAO noted.

FAO Director‑General Qu Dongyu said the 2026 edition provides a comprehensive evidence base to guide policy, investment and action at all levels, and delivers encouraging messages.

He highlighted that global production of aquatic resources reached a new high of 235 million tonnes in 2024, driven mainly by aquaculture. “In 2024, this subsector surpassed a record 100 million tonnes of aquatic animal production. That year, an estimated 21.3 kg per capita of aquatic animal foods were available for consumption worldwide. Aquatic animal foods contributed 15 percent of animal protein availability globally and provided at least 20 percent of animal protein availability for more than 40 percent of the world’s population in 2023. About 36 percent of the 2024 aquatic animal production was traded worldwide,” he said.

“Overall, trade in aquatic products involved almost 230 economic territories and generated an estimated $186 billion in revenue. In parallel, employment in the primary sector increased to over 65 million workers, supporting the livelihoods of more than 600 million people. It highlights how FAO, with its Members, communities, institutions, industry and partners, is translating its Blue Transformation vision into measurable results,” Qu added.

The report also noted that the global value of international trade in aquatic products reached $186 billion in 2024, involving 230 countries and territories. Aquatic animal products accounted for the vast majority of this value ($184 billion, 99 percent), while algae, sponges and shells made up the remaining $2 billion.

“Globally, the value of trade in aquatic products represented 9 percent of total agricultural trade (excluding forestry) and about 1 percent of total merchandise trade. The value of trade in aquatic animal products was similar in magnitude to that in terrestrial meats and meat preparations,” the report said.

Europe accounted for 38 percent of the total aquatic animal export value in 2024, followed by Asia (34 percent) and Latin America and the Caribbean (15 percent). Northern America, Africa and Oceania contributed 6 percent, 5 percent and 2 percent respectively. Europe remained the largest importing region (41 percent of the total import value), followed by Asia (34 percent) and Northern America (17 percent). Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Oceania accounted for smaller shares of 3 percent, 3 percent and 1 percent respectively.

The top five exporters accounted for 35 percent of the total in 2024, led by China (11 percent), Norway (9 percent), Vietnam (6 percent), and Ecuador and Chile (5 percent each).

The European Union was the largest single market, importing $63 billion of aquatic animal products, including $31 billion of intra‑European Union trade. The top five importing countries accounted for 43 percent of the total, led by the United States (15 percent), followed by China (12 percent), Japan (7 percent), Spain (5 percent) and Italy (4 percent).

The most traded aquatic animal products in 2024 were finfish (68 percent of the total value), crustaceans (22 percent) and molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (11 percent). By species group, salmonids remained the most valuable (21 percent of the total value), followed by shrimps and prawns (16 percent), tunas, bonitos and billfishes (10 percent), cods, hakes and haddocks (8 percent) and cephalopods (7 percent).