Japan Fish Exports 2026 Market Overview & Trends

Japan's export performance peaked in 2022 at over $2.6 billion before entering a decline. By 2024, export values retreated to $1.96 billion, mirroring 2020 levels.
Interestingly, the 2024 value was achieved with significantly lower quantity (428 million) compared to 2020 (584 million), suggesting an increase in the average price per unit over the five-year period.

In 2024, the United States stands as the leading importer of Japanese fish products, with a total value of $452.3 million. Hong Kong follows as the second-largest market at $306.4 million.
The data highlights a strong concentration of trade within the Pan-Pacific and Asian regions, including Vietnam and Thailand as major destination hubs.

Vietnam is the fastest-growing emerging market with a 32.5% growth rate, followed by Thailand at 17.3%. While the United States remains the largest market by value, its 11.2% growth is outpaced by Southeast Asian nations, marking a strategic shift in regional demand dynamics for Japanese exports.

Molluscs (HS 030799) are the highest-valued export product, totaling $422.7 million in 2024. Prepared or preserved oysters (HS 160590) also show strong performance at $285.5 million.
The data reveals that shellfish and processed mollusc preparations are critical pillars of Japan's current seafood export portfolio.