The overall sales for exported caviar appreciated by 12.7% from $451.7 million in 2018 but dropped in value by -12.2% compared to $580.3 million sold on international markets during 2021.
Of the dollar amount for 2022, $199.5 million or 39.2% of globally exported caviar was for sales of traditional caviar compared to the 31.8% share in 2021. The traditional delicacy is made from the internal egg masses of wild sturgeon sourced from the Caspian Sea or the Mediterranean’s Black Sea.
Alternative forms of caviar made from fish other than sturgeon accounted for revenues were $309.7 million or about 1.5 times the total for exported traditional caviar. This multiple is despite the fact that the average unit price for traditional caviar ($214,056 per ton) is almost 12 times the average unit for caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs ($18,433 per ton).
Key Statistical Insights by Type of Caviar
Revenues from exported traditional caviar increased by 65.7% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 and grew by 10.5% from 2021 to 2022. International sales of exported caviar alternatives declined via a -6.5% reduction since 2018 and a -22.5% dip from one year earlier in 2021.
The top 5 exporters of traditional caviar by overall sales are mainland China, Italy, France, Germany and Belgium. Combined, those leading exporters generated over three-quarters (76%) of global sales for traditional caviar.
Attaining almost two-thirds (65.7%) of its global total, the 5 major exporters of caviar alternatives accounted for a lesser concentrated percentage compared to traditional caviar. The main shippers of caviar alternatives are Japan, mainland China, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.
From a continental perspective, 51.9% of traditional caviar exports came from Europe trailed by international suppliers in Asia (42.9%). Smaller percentages originated in North America (2.8%), Africa (1.2%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (1.1%), then Oceania’s New Zealand only (0.04%).
Focusing on the non-sturgeon alternative caviar exports, the leading continental supplier entities are located in Asia (50.6% of the world total), Europe (44.3%), North America (4.1%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (0.9%), Africa (0.03%), then Oceania’s Samoa only (0.01%).
In addition to total export sales for traditional and alternative caviar, this article delves into the lowest and highest average unit prices per ton as well as the major export countries as measured by shipment weight.
For research purposes, the Harmonized System (HS) code is 160431 for traditional caviar. The HS code is 160432 for caviar substitutes made from non-sturgeon fish eggs.
Top Exporters of Traditional Caviar by Global Sales
Listed below are the most lucrative countries for supplying traditional caviar in 2022 ranked by total international sales.
Also shown is percentage that each country represents in terms of globally exported caviar from sturgeon eggs sourced from the Black Sea or the Caspian Sea.
- China: US$76.6 million (38.4% of traditional caviar exports)
- Italy: $26.1 million (13.1%)
- France: $23.6 million (11.8%)
- Germany: $14.9 million (7.5%)
- Belgium: $10.3 million (5.2%)
- Poland: $9.9 million (5%)
- United States: $4.6 million (2.3%)
- Latvia: $3 million (1.5%)
- Israel: $2.8 million (1.4%)
- Bulgaria: $2.7 million (1.4%)
- Madagascar: $2.4 million (1.2%)
- Netherlands: $2.2 million (1.1%)
- Uruguay: $2.1 million (1.1%)
- Denmark: $2 million (1%)
- Greece: $1.9 million (1%)
By value, the above 15 main export countries furnished 92.8% of globally exported traditional caviar in 2022.
Posting the strongest gains in international sales of traditional caviar from 2021 to 2022 were Bulgaria (up 70.8%), Greece (up 39.8%), United States of America (up 32.2%), Belgium (up 28.6%), mainland China (up 19.9%) and Denmark (up 18.8%).
Double-digit declines among the top 15 exporters of traditional caviar belonged to suppliers in the Netherlands (down -27.5% from 2021), Uruguay (down -15.3%) and Israel (down -11.1%).
Top Alternative Caviar Exporters by Global Sales
Listed below are the best countries that benefit from selling caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs on international markets during 2022.
Also shown is percentage that each country represents in terms of globally exported alternative caviar.
- Japan: US$73.9 million (23.9% of alternative caviar exports)
- China: $57 million (18.4%)
- Germany: $40.6 million (13.1%)
- Sweden: $16.5 million (5.3%)
- Denmark: $15.5 million (5%)
- United States: $12.3 million (4%)
- Russia: $10.7 million (3.4%)
- Iceland: $9.4 million (3%)
- Netherlands: $8.6 million (2.8%)
- Kazakhstan: $7.8 million (2.5%)
- South Korea: $7.3 million (2.4%)
- Vietnam: $5.8 million (1.9%)
- Spain: $5.1 million (1.7%)
- Belarus: $4.88 million (1.6%)
- Latvia: $4.22 million (1.4%)
By value, the above 15 main export countries represent 90.3% of alternative caviar exported in 2022. That percentage belies a slightly more concentrated cohort of international suppliers compared to the 92.8% for 15 major exporters of traditional caviar made from sturgeon eggs.
The fastest-growing top exporters of non-traditional caviar from 2021 to 2022 were those located in Vietnam (up 1,688%), mainland China (up 24.7%), Japan (up 23.5%) and Spain (up 17.1%).
The following supplier countries recorded the deepest reductions: Belarus (down -93.5% compared to 2021), Kazakhstan (down -63.3%), Russia (down -59.8%), Denmark (down -47.5%) and Iceland (down -18.7%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Traditional Caviar Exports
In 2022, the world’s average unit price for caviar made from sturgeon eggs from the Black Sea or the Caspian Sea was US$214,056 per ton. The average unit price for traditional caviar fell by -1.6% from an average $217,559 per ton for 2021.
The top exporter of traditional caviar, mainland China, charged an above average $288,056 per ton in 2022.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries exporting traditional caviar charging the lowest unit prices in 2022.
- Maldives: US$3,529 per ton (up 5.5% from 2021)
- Malaysia: $6,593 per ton (down -60.4%)
- South Africa: $9,000 per ton (down -82.7%)
- Iceland: $14,000 per ton (down -58.2%)
- Sweden: $18,750 per ton (down -81.9%)
- Türkiye: $20,818 per ton (up 10.8%)
- Russia: $28,611 per ton (down -77.5%)
- Lithuania: $37,600 per ton (up 25%)
- Czech Republic: $38,538 per ton (down -31.7%)
- Canada: $46,905 per ton (up 35.4%)
- United States of America: $52,736 per ton (up 9.4%)
- Denmark: $65,000 per ton (down -5%)
- New Zealand: $70,000 per ton (up 79.5%)
- Belarus: $80,750 per ton (down -70.4%)
- Latvia: $85,686 per ton (down -19.3%)
Posting the severest reductions in unit price per ton for traditional caviar were South Africa (down -82.7% from 2021), Sweden (down -81.9%), Russia (down -77.5%), Belarus (down -70.4%) then Malaysia (down -60.4%).
The following countries shipped exported traditional caviar at the highest average unit prices.
- France: US$656,556 per ton (down -0.7% from 2021)
- Luxembourg: $586,500 per ton (up 16.8%)
- Germany: $573,808 per ton (down -1.7%)
- Israel: $559,800 per ton (up 24.4%)
- Belgium: $542,316 per ton (down -5.2%)
- Uruguay: $422,200 per ton (up 1.7%)
- Italy: $413,810 per ton (up 1.6%)
- United Kingdom: $393,500 per ton (up 5.5%)
- Madagascar: $344,000 per ton (up 19.3%)
- Georgia: $338,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Armenia: $326,000 per ton (up 36.4%)
- mainland China: $288,056 per ton (up 10%)
- Greece: $241,125 per ton (up 39.8%)
- Bulgaria: $208,385 per ton (up 31.4%)
- Singapore: $177,000 per ton (up 39.4%)
Posting the greatest advances in terms of average unit price hikes for traditional caviar were: Greece (up 39.8% from 2021), Singapore (up 39.4%), Armenia (up 36.4%), Bulgaria (up 31.4%) then Israel (up 24.4%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Non-Traditional Exported Caviar
In 2022, the world’s average unit price for caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs was US$18,433 per ton—just 8.6% of the global average unit price for traditional sturgeon caviar ($214,056 per ton).
The world average unit price for caviar alternatives inflated by 30.7% from an average $14,107 per ton one year earlier during 2021.
The top exporter of caviar alternatives made from non-sturgeon fish eggs, Japan, charged a comparatively high $35,250 per ton in 2022.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries collecting the lowest average unit prices for exported caviar alternatives in 2022.
- Dominican Republic: US$158 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Malaysia: $750 per ton (down -70% from 2021)
- Uzbekistan: $1,000 per ton (down -80%)
- South Africa: $3,000 per ton (no change)
- Greece: $5,147 per ton (up 10%)
- Belarus: $7,048 per ton (up 18.8%)
- Kazakhstan: $9,174 per ton (up 11.9%)
- Hungary: $9,200 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Greenland: $9,442 per ton (down -42%)
- Sweden: $9,818 per ton (up 24.1%)
- Vietnam: $10,029 per ton (down -60.4%)
- Romania: $10,154 per ton (down -11.2%)
- Ukraine: $10,186 per ton (up 11.2%)
- Turkey: $10,509 per ton (up 33.9%)
- Norway: $10,913 per ton (up 53.3%)
Posting decreases in their average unit price per ton for non-traditional caviar since 2021 were low-cost providers Uzbekistan (down -80%), Malaysia (down -70%), Vietnam (down -60.4%), Greenland (down -42%) and Romania (down -11.2%).
The following countries shipped exported caviar alternatives charging the greatest average unit prices.
- United Kingdom: US$135,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Indonesia: $78,000 per ton (up 95.1% from 2021)
- Ireland: $75,143 per ton (down -3%)
- Italy: $58,633 per ton (up 56.1%)
- Singapore: $52,000 per ton (up 7.7%)
- Estonia: $49,382 per ton (up 44.4%)
- Luxembourg: $46,444 per ton (down -22%)
- Canada: $44,700 per ton (up 2.6%)
- Thailand: $42,500 per ton (up 176.5%)
- Finland: $39,359 per ton (up 24.8%)
- Japan: $35,250 per ton (down -1.1%)
- North Korea: $34,800 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Hong Kong: $32,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Denmark: $30,892 per ton (up 88.6%)
- Belgium: $28,678 per ton (down -2.9%)
The greatest upticks in terms of higher average unit prices for non-traditional caviar in 2022 compared to 2021 belong to Thailand (up 176.5%), Indonesia (up 95.1%), Denmark (up 88.6%), Italy (up 56.1%) then Estonia (up 44.4%).
Biggest Exporters of Traditional Caviar by Weight
As measured by shipment weight, a total 932 tons in traditional sturgeon caviar was exported during 2022.
The overall weight of globally exported caviar increased by 12.3% compared to 2021 and rose by 4.1% since 2018.
Ranked by shipped weight, listed below are the top 15 shippers of traditional caviar exports.
- mainland China: 266 tons (28.5% of traditional caviar tonnage)
- Poland: 97 tons (10.4%)
- United States of America: 87 tons (9.3%)
- Italy: 63 tons (6.8%)
- Uganda: 49 tons (5.3%)
- France: 36 tons (3.9%)
- Latvia: 35 tons (3.8%)
- Denmark: 30 tons (3.2%)
- Malaysia: 27 tons (2.9%)
- Czech Republic: 26 tons (2.8%)
- Germany: 26 tons (2.8%)
- Canada: 21 tons (2.3%)
- Belgium: 19 tons (2%)
- Russia: 18 tons (1.9%)
- Maldives: 17 tons (1.8%)
The strongest year-over-year increases in terms of shipment weight for traditional caviar suppliers were posted by Malaysia (up 800% from 2021), Poland (up 223.3%), Czech Republic (up 160%) then Russia (up 50%).
Declines in total shipment weight since 2021 were experienced by the Maldives (down -34.6%) and Canada (down -32.3%).
Biggest Exporters of Non-Traditional Caviar by Weight
A total 16,802 tons of caviar from non-sturgeon fish eggs were exported around the globe in 2022.
That overall shipment tonnage reflects a -40.7% reduction from 28,334 tons for 2021.
By weight, the following is a ranking of the 15 largest shippers of exported alternatives to traditional caviar.
- mainland China: 4,183 tons (24.9% of alternative caviar exports)
- Japan: 2,097 tons (12.5%)
- Germany: 1,791 tons (10.7%)
- Sweden: 1,641 tons (9.8%)
- United States of America: 756 tons (4.5%)
- Belarus: 733 tons (4.4%)
- Vietnam: 635 tons (3.8%)
- Kazakhstan: 580 tons (3.5%)
- Iceland: 576 tons (3.4%)
- Russia: 534 tons (3.2%)
- Denmark: 502 tons (3%)
- South Korea: 400 tons (2.4%)
- Netherlands: 364 tons (2.2%)
- Norway: 249 tons (1.5%)
- France: 190 tons (1.1%)
Recording double-digit increases in shipment weight of non-traditional caviar were exporters in the United States (up 43.5% from 2021), Norway (up 35.3%), France (up 31%), Japan (up 24.9%) and mainland China (up 11.5%).
Decliners as measured by year-over-year volume reductions were led by suppliers in Belarus (down -93.1% from 2021), Denmark (down -72.2%), Russia (down -67.1%) then Kazakhstan (down -49.7%).
See also Top Salmon Exports & Imports by Country, Big Export Sales for Frozen or Fresh Shrimps, Frozen Fish Exports by Country, Top Water and Ice Exporters and Top Saffron Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 17, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 17, 2023
Wikipedia, Caviar. Accessed on August 17, 2023
