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Top Caviar Export Sales by Country, Unit Price & Weight

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Caviar fish eggs garnish
Red caviar
In 2021, overall exports of caviar made from fish eggs were worth a total US$567.9 million. Globally exported caviar appreciated by 37.4% from $413.3 million in 2017 and gained in value by 37.2% compared to $414 million during 2020.

Of the dollar amount for 2021, $180.6 million or 31.8% of globally exported caviar was for the international sales of traditional caviar compared to 25.9% in 2020. 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 $387.3 million or more than twice than the total for exported traditional caviar. This multiple is despite the fact that the average unit price for traditional caviar ($183,391 per ton) is almost 14 times the average unit for caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs ($13,559 per ton).

Key Statistical Insights by Type of Caviar

Revenues from exported traditional caviar increased by 57.2% over the 5-year period starting in 2017 and spiked by 66.4% from 2020 to 2021. International sales of exported caviar alternatives expanded at a slower pace via a 29.8% advance since 2017 and a 26.8% uptick from one year earlier in 2020.

The top 5 exporters of traditional caviar by overall sales are mainland China, Italy, France, Germany and Poland. Combined, those leading exporters generated about three-quarters (75.2%) of global sales for traditional caviar.

Falling well below two-thirds of its global total, the 5 major exporters of caviar alternatives accounted for a lesser concentrated percentage (62.7%) of worldwide exports by value. The main shippers of caviar alternatives are Belarus, Japan, mainland China, Germany and Denmark.

From a continental perspective, 55.1% of traditional caviar exports came from Europe trailed by international suppliers in Asia (39.5%). Smaller percentages originated in North America (2.5%), Africa (1.5%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (1.4%), then Oceania (0.02%) New Zealand only.

For non-sturgeon alternative caviar exports, the leading continental supplier entities are located in Europe (59.6%), Asia (36.2%), North America (3.1%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (1.1%), then Africa (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 2021 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.

  1. China: US$63.9 million (35.4% of traditional caviar exports)
  2. Italy: $26.9 million (14.9%)
  3. France: $21.8 million (12.1%)
  4. Germany: $14.1 million (7.8%)
  5. Poland: $9.2 million (5.1%)
  6. Belgium: $8 million (4.4%)
  7. United States: $3.5 million (1.9%)
  8. Netherlands: $3.23 million (1.8%)
  9. Israel: $3.19 million (1.8%)
  10. Latvia: $2.8 million (1.5%)
  11. Madagascar: $2.6 million (1.4%)
  12. Uruguay: $2.5 million (1.4%)
  13. Spain: $2.3 million (1.3%)
  14. Denmark: $1.64 million (0.9%)
  15. Bulgaria: $1.63 million (0.9%)

By value, the above 15 main export countries furnished 92.6% of globally exported traditional caviar in 2021.

Posting triple-digit percentage gains in international sales of traditional caviar from 2020 to 2021 were Madagascar (up 279%), Bulgaria (up 179.1%), Spain (up 124.2%), mainland China (up 122.8%) and Poland (up 108.8%).

The lone decline among the top 15 exporters of traditional caviar belonged to Denmark via its -46.7% setback.

Top Alternative Caviar Exporters by Global Sales

Listed below are the best countries for selling caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs on international markets during 2021.

Also shown is percentage that each country represents in terms of globally exported alternative caviar.

  1. Belarus: US$74.5 million (19.2% of alternative caviar exports)
  2. Japan: $59.9 million (15.5%)
  3. China: $45.7 million (11.8%)
  4. Germany: $33.4 million (8.6%)
  5. Denmark: $29.2 million (7.5%)
  6. Russia: $26.5 million (6.9%)
  7. Sweden: $15.2 million (3.9%)
  8. Kazakhstan: $14.3 million (3.7%)
  9. Iceland: $11.6 million (3%)
  10. United States: $11.5 million (3%)
  11. South Korea: $8.6 million (2.2%)
  12. Netherlands: $8.5 million (2.2%)
  13. Latvia: $5 million (1.3%)
  14. Spain: $4.38 million (1.1%)
  15. Peru: $4.19 million (1.1%)

By value, the above 15 main export countries represent 91% of non-sturgeon caviar exported in 2021. That percentage belies a slightly more concentrated cohort of international suppliers compared to the major exporters for traditional caviar made from sturgeon eggs.

The fastest-growing top exporters of non-traditional caviar from 2020 to 2021 were Peru (up 176.1%), Netherlands (up 111%), Russia (up 99.8%), Latvia (up 79.1%), South Korea (up 77.2%) then Denmark (up 74.1%).

There were 3 decliners namely the United States of America (down -23% compared to 2020), mainland China (down -10.1%) and Kazakhstan (down -9.4%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Traditional Caviar Exports

In 2021, the world’s average unit price for caviar made from sturgeon eggs from the Black Sea or the Caspian Sea was US$183,391 per ton. The average unit price for traditional caviar inflated by 29.2% from an average $141,905 per ton for 2020.

The top exporter of traditional caviar, mainland China, charged an above average $261,803 per ton in 2021.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries exporting traditional caviar with the lowest unit prices in 2021.

  1. Ecuador: US$333 per ton (down -59.3% from 2020)
  2. Maldives: $3,346 per ton (up 101%)
  3. Malaysia: $16,667 per ton (up 76.5%)
  4. Turkey: $18,786 per ton (down -20%)
  5. Lithuania: $30,059 per ton (up 8%)
  6. Iceland: $33,500 per ton (down 0%)
  7. Canada: $34,645 per ton (up 12.9%)
  8. New Zealand: $39,000 per ton (down -35%)
  9. United States of America: $48,139 per ton (up 16.9%)
  10. South Africa: $52,000 per ton (up 2,500%)
  11. Norway: $65,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  12. Denmark: $68,417 per ton (down -51.1%)
  13. Slovakia: $76,000 per ton (up 130.3%)
  14. United Arab Emirates: $80,875 per ton (down -44.4%)
  15. Spain: $96,583 per ton (up 21.4%)

Posting the strongest reductions in unit price per ton since 2020 for traditional caviar were Ecuador (down -59.3%), Denmark (down -59.1%), United Arab Emirates (down -44.4%), New Zealnd (down -35%) then Turkey (down -20%).

The following countries shipped exported traditional caviar at the highest average unit prices.

  1. France: US$661,152 per ton (up 4.8% from 2020)
  2. Belgium: $572,357 per ton (up 13.1%)
  3. Germany: $565,120 per ton (down -8.4%)
  4. Luxembourg: $502,000 per ton (up 20.1%)
  5. Uruguay: $417,833 per ton (up 31.7%)
  6. Iran: $391,500 per ton (down -27.9%)
  7. United Kingdom: $373,000 per ton (down -8.1%)
  8. Poland: $306,033 per ton (down -2.5%)
  9. Madagascar: $288,444 per ton (up 26.3%)
  10. Belarus: $273,000 per ton (down -28.3%)
  11. China: $261,803 per ton (up 12.3%)
  12. Armenia: $239,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  13. Estonia: $218,000 per ton (down -15.3%)
  14. Netherlands: $179,389 per ton (up 54.6%)
  15. Greece: $172,500 per ton (down -27.2%)

Posting double-digit advances in terms of average unit price hikes for traditional caviar from 2020 to 2021 were: Netherlands (up 54.6%), Uruguay (up 31.7%), Madagascar (up 26.3%), Luxembourg (up 20.1%), Belgium (up 13.1%) then mainland China (up 12.3%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Non-Traditional Exported Caviar

In 2021, the world’s average unit price for caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs was US$13,559 per ton—just 7.4% of the global average unit price for traditional sturgeon caviar ($183,391 per ton).

The world average unit price for caviar alternatives increased by 43.2% from an average $9,466 per ton one year earlier during 2020.

The top exporter of caviar alternatives made from non-sturgeon fish eggs, Belarus, charged a comparatively economical $7,048 per ton in 2021.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries collecting the lowest average unit prices for exported caviar alternatives in 2021.

  1. Dominican Republic: US$158 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  2. Malaysia: $750 per ton (down -70% from 2020)
  3. Uzbekistan: $1,000 per ton (down -80%)
  4. South Africa: $3,000 per ton (no change)
  5. Greece: $5,147 per ton (up 10%)
  6. Belarus: $7,048 per ton (up 18.8%)
  7. Kazakhstan: $9,174 per ton (up 11.9%)
  8. Hungary: $9,200 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  9. Greenland: $9,442 per ton (down -42%)
  10. Sweden: $9,818 per ton (up 24.1%)
  11. Vietnam: $10,029 per ton (down -60.4%)
  12. Romania: $10,154 per ton (down -11.2%)
  13. Ukraine: $10,186 per ton (up 11.2%)
  14. Turkey: $10,509 per ton (up 33.9%)
  15. Norway: $10,913 per ton (up 53.3%)

Posting decreases in their average unit price per ton for non-traditional caviar since 2020 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.

  1. Finland: US$462,667 per ton (down -17.1% from 2020)
  2. Ireland: $77,333 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  3. Luxembourg: $59,571 per ton (up 12.5%)
  4. Switzerland: $57,500 per ton (down -29.4%)
  5. Singapore: $48,286 per ton (up 28.4%)
  6. Canada: $43,556 per ton (up 29.8%)
  7. Indonesia: $39,989 per ton (up 46.8%)
  8. Chile: $36,500 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  9. Japan: $35,656 per ton (up 23%)
  10. Italy: $35,324 per ton (down -13.3%)
  11. Estonia: $34,202 per ton (down -17.2%)
  12. Belgium: $29,544 per ton (down -4%)
  13. Spain: $26,701 per ton (up 4,986%)
  14. Germany: $26,176 per ton (up 20.1%)
  15. Austria: $24,500 per ton (up 20.6%)

4985.9% 30.0%

  • Spain: US$26,701 per ton (up 4985.9% from 2020)

    • 46.8% 67.1%

  • Indonesia: $39,989 per ton (up 46.8%)

    • 29.8% 127.4%

  • Canada: $43,556 per ton (up 29.8%)

    • 28.4% 14.4%

  • Singapore: $48,286 per ton (up 28.4%)

    • 23.0% 31.2%

  • Japan: $35,656 per ton (up 23.0%)

    • The 6 greatest upticks in terms of higher average unit prices for non-sturgeon caviar in 2021 compared to 2020 belong to Spain (up 4,986%), Indonesia (up 46.8%), Canada (up 29.8%), Singapore (up 28.4%) then Japan (up 23%).

    Showing double-digit reductions year over year were Switzerland (down -29.4%), Estonia (down -17.2%), Finland (down -17.1%) and Italy (down -13.3%).

    Biggest Exporters of Traditional Caviar by Weight

    As measured by shipment weight, a total 765 tons in traditional sturgeon caviar was exported during 2021.

    The overall weight of globally exported caviar increased by 28.8% compared to 2020 but fell by -11.7% since 2017.

    Ranked by weight, listed below are the top 15 shippers of traditional caviar exports.

    1. China: 244 tons (24.8% of traditional caviar tonnage)
    2. Italy: 234 tons (23.8%)
    3. United States: 72 tons (7.3%)
    4. Lithuania: 51 tons (5.2%)
    5. Turkey: 42 tons (4.3%)
    6. France: 33 tons (3.4%)
    7. Canada: 31 tons (3.1%)
    8. Poland: 30 tons (3%)
    9. Maldives: 26 tons (2.6%)
    10. Latvia: 26 tons (2.6%)
    11. Germany: 25 tons (2.5%)
    12. Denmark: 24 tons (2.4%)
    13. Spain: 24 tons (2.4%)
    14. Netherlands: 18 tons (1.8%)
    15. Belgium: 14 tons (1.4%)

    The strongest year-over-year increases in terms of shipment weight for traditional caviar suppliers were posted by Italy (up 515.8%), Poland (up 114.3%) and mainland China (up 98.4%).

    Declines in total shipment weight since 2020 were experienced by the Maldives (down -84.7%), Canada (down -42.6%), United States of America (down -10%) and the Netherlands (down -5.3%).

    Biggest Exporters of Non-Traditional Caviar by Weight

    In total, 28,562 tons of caviar from non-sturgeon fish eggs were exported around the globe in 2021.

    That overall shipment tonnage reflects a -11.5% reduction from 32,264 tons in 2020.

    By weight, the following is a ranking of the 15 largest shippers of exported alternatives to traditional caviar.

    1. Belarus: 10,573 tons (37% of alternative caviar exports)
    2. China: 3,752 tons (13.1%)
    3. Denmark: 1,792 tons (6.3%)
    4. Japan: 1,679 tons (5.9%)
    5. Russia: 1,622 tons (5.7%)
    6. Kazakhstan: 1,559 tons (5.5%)
    7. Sweden: 1,548 tons (5.4%)
    8. Germany: 1,276 tons (4.5%)
    9. Iceland: 672 tons (2.4%)
    10. South Korea: 510 tons (1.8%)
    11. United States: 477 tons (1.7%)
    12. Vietnam: 414 tons (1.4%)
    13. Netherlands: 372 tons (1.3%)
    14. Peru: 322 tons (1.1%)
    15. Latvia: 205 tons (0.7%)

    Recording the largest increases in shipment weight of non-traditional caviar were exporters in Vietnam (up 4,040% from 2020), Peru (up 151.6%), Denmark (up 92.5%) and the Netherlands (up 78%).

    Decliners as measured by year-over-year volume reductions were the United States of America (down -19.8%), Kazakhstan (down -19.1%), Germany (down -14.3%) then mainland China (down -8.2%).

    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 13, 2022

    International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 13, 2022

    Wikipedia, Caviar. Accessed on August 13, 2022