Sep 3, 2025
IndexBox has just published a new report: United Kingdom – Frozen Fish Fillet – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights.
The frozen fish fillet market in the UK is expected to experience continued growth driven by increasing demand, with a forecasted CAGR of +1.7% from 2024 to 2035. By the end of 2035, the market volume is projected to reach 487K tons and the market value to reach $2.6B in nominal prices.
Market Forecast
Driven by increasing demand for frozen fish fillet in the UK, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +1.7% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market volume to 487K tons by the end of 2035.
In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +1.7% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market value to $2.6B (in nominal wholesale prices) by the end of 2035.
ConsumptionUnited Kingdom’s Consumption of Frozen Fish Fillet
In 2024, approx. 406K tons of frozen fish fillet were consumed in the UK; picking up by 4.1% against the previous year. Overall, the total consumption indicated a moderate expansion from 2013 to 2024: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.1% over the last eleven-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2024 figures, consumption decreased by -0.9% against 2022 indices. As a result, consumption attained the peak volume of 410K tons. From 2023 to 2024, the growth of the consumption failed to regain momentum.
The value of the frozen fish fillet market in the UK fell to $2.2B in 2024, reducing by -5.1% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Over the period under review, consumption saw resilient growth. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $2.6B. From 2023 to 2024, the growth of the market failed to regain momentum.
ProductionUnited Kingdom’s Production of Frozen Fish Fillet
In 2024, approx. 267K tons of frozen fish fillet were produced in the UK; growing by 3.6% against the previous year. Overall, production recorded resilient growth. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 17%. Over the period under review, production attained the maximum volume at 276K tons in 2022; however, from 2023 to 2024, production remained at a lower figure.
In value terms, frozen fish fillet production contracted to $1.1B in 2024 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production recorded a prominent expansion. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2022 when the production volume increased by 34%. As a result, production attained the peak level of $1.6B. From 2023 to 2024, production growth remained at a somewhat lower figure.
ImportsUnited Kingdom’s Imports of Frozen Fish Fillet
Frozen fish fillet imports into the UK rose slightly to 147K tons in 2024, with an increase of 3.1% compared with 2023. Overall, imports, however, continue to indicate a slight decline. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2022 when imports increased by 16%. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs at 168K tons in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2024, imports remained at a lower figure.
In value terms, frozen fish fillet imports declined modestly to $1B in 2024. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% over the period from 2013 to 2024; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2022 when imports increased by 34% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of $1.1B. From 2023 to 2024, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.
Imports By Country
In 2024, China (51K tons) constituted the largest frozen fish fillet supplier to the UK, with a 35% share of total imports. Moreover, frozen fish fillet imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Iceland (23K tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was taken by Vietnam (18K tons), with a 13% share.
From 2013 to 2024, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from China was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Iceland (-0.7% per year) and Vietnam (+3.4% per year).
In value terms, the largest frozen fish fillet suppliers to the UK were China ($277M), Iceland ($212M) and Vietnam ($83M), together accounting for 55% of total imports. Norway, Turkey, Russia, Faroe Islands, the United States, Greenland, Poland, Germany and Denmark lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 35%.
In terms of the main suppliers, Turkey, with a CAGR of +21.7%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Import Prices By Country
The average frozen fish fillet import price stood at $7,093 per ton in 2024, which is down by -6.1% against the previous year. Over the last eleven-year period, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.4%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2022 an increase of 15% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $7,741 per ton. From 2023 to 2024, the average import prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.
Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Denmark ($14,672 per ton), while the price for Vietnam ($4,502 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Denmark (+9.8%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.
ExportsUnited Kingdom’s Exports of Frozen Fish Fillet
In 2024, frozen fish fillet exports from the UK fell notably to 6.8K tons, dropping by -25.7% on the year before. In general, exports showed a deep downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when exports increased by 24%. As a result, the exports reached the peak of 29K tons. From 2015 to 2024, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.
In value terms, frozen fish fillet exports shrank significantly to $29M in 2024. Over the period under review, exports saw a deep downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2022 with an increase of 29% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum at $109M in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2024, the exports failed to regain momentum.
Exports By Country
The Netherlands (2.2K tons) was the main destination for frozen fish fillet exports from the UK, accounting for a 32% share of total exports. Moreover, frozen fish fillet exports to the Netherlands exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, France (538 tons), fourfold. Japan (473 tons) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 6.9% share.
From 2013 to 2024, the average annual growth rate of volume to the Netherlands was relatively modest. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: France (-16.7% per year) and Japan (+19.2% per year).
In value terms, the Netherlands ($6.7M), the United States ($4.7M) and France ($4.1M) appeared to be the largest markets for frozen fish fillet exported from the UK worldwide, with a combined 53% share of total exports. Ireland, Spain, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Poland and Portugal lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 23%.
Japan, with a CAGR of +22.2%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, among the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Export Prices By Country
The average frozen fish fillet export price stood at $4,260 per ton in 2024, falling by -13.8% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 an increase of 20%. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs at $6,072 per ton in 2022; however, from 2023 to 2024, the export prices failed to regain momentum.
Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the United States ($14,377 per ton), while the average price for exports to Japan ($2,067 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Ireland (+8.5%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.
Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform