The overall sales for exported caviar appreciated by 12.1% from five years earlier in $443.7 million in 2019 but dropped in value by -1.9% compared to $506.6 million sold on international markets during 2022.
Of the dollar amount for 2023, $213.4 million or 42.9% of globally exported caviar was for sales of traditional caviar compared to the 39.2% share in 2022. 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 $283.8 million or about 1.3 times the total for exported traditional caviar. This multiple belies the fact that the average unit price for traditional caviar ($232,988 per ton) is 12.4 times the average unit for caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs ($18,832 per ton).
Key Statistical Insights by Type of Caviar
Revenues from exported traditional caviar increased by 75.7% over the 5-year period starting in 2019 and grew by 7.1% from 2022 to 2023. International sales of exported caviar alternatives declined via a -7.7% reduction over the five-year period and a -7.7% drop from one year earlier in 2022.
The top 5 exporters of traditional caviar by overall sales are mainland China, Italy, France, Germany and Poland. Combined, those leading exporters generated almost three-quarters (73.8%) of global sales for traditional caviar.
Attaining three-fifths (60.2%) 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, Denmark and Sweden.
From a continental perspective, 50.9% of traditional caviar exports came from Europe trailed by international suppliers in Asia (42.6%). Smaller percentages originated in North America (3.8%), Africa (1.7%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (1%), then Oceania’s New Zealand only (0.01%).
Focusing on the non-sturgeon alternative caviar exports, the leading continental supplier entities are located in Asia (48.1% of the world total), Europe (44.5%), North America (5.7%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (1.6%), Oceania’s Samoa only (0.01%) then Africa (0.07%).
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 2023 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.
- mainland China: US$82.7 million (38.8% of traditional caviar exports)
- Italy: $25.5 million (12%)
- France: $21.8 million (10.2%)
- Germany: $14.2 million (6.7%)
- Poland: $13.3 million (6.2%)
- Belgium: $10.8 million (5.1%)
- United States: $7.5 million (3.5%)
- Bulgaria: $5.7 million (2.7%)
- Madagascar: $3.5 million (1.7%)
- Greece: $3.1 million (1.5%)
- Denmark: $2.5 million (1.2%)
- Netherlands: $2.3 million (1.1%)
- Latvia: $2.2 million (1%)
- Iran: $2.1 million (1%)
- Uruguay: $2 million (0.9%)
By value, the above 15 main export countries furnished 93.4% of globally exported traditional caviar in 2023.
Posting the strongest gains in international sales of traditional caviar from 2022 to 2023 were Bulgaria (up 111.6%), United States of America (up 63%), Greece (up 62.6%), Madagascar (up 46.4%) and Poland (up 34.2%).
Declines among the top 15 exporters of traditional caviar belonged to suppliers in Latvia (down -27.4% from 2022), Germany (down -8.3%), France (down -8%) and Uruguay (down -6.9%).
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 2023.
Also shown is percentage that each country represents in terms of globally exported alternative caviar.
- Japan: US$64.7 million (22.8% of alternative caviar exports)
- mainland China: $45.1 million (15.9%)
- Germany: $31 million (10.9%)
- Denmark: $15.1 million (5.3%)
- Sweden: $15 million (5.3%)
- United States: $14.1 million (5%)
- Netherlands: $9.2 million (3.2%)
- Iceland: $8.5 million (3%)
- Vietnam: $7.9 million (2.8%)
- Russia: $7.4 million (2.6%)
- South Korea: $7.2 million (2.6%)
- Spain: $5.9 million (2.1%)
- Peru: $4.6 million (1.6%)
- Kazakhstan: $4.57 million (1.6%)
- Estonia: $4.14 million (1.5%)
By value, the above 15 main export countries represent 86.1% of alternative caviar exported in 2023. That percentage belies a less concentrated cohort of international suppliers compared to the 93.4% for 15 major exporters of traditional caviar made from sturgeon eggs.
The fastest-growing top exporters of non-traditional caviar from 2022 to 2023 were those located in Vietnam (up 606.7%), Peru (up 58.8%), Estonia (up 23.4%), United States of America (up 14.8%) and Spain (up 14.7%).
The following supplier countries recorded double-digit reductions: Kazakhstan (down -41.5% compared to 2022), Russia (down -31.1%), Germany (down -27.3%), mainland China (down -20.8%), Japan (down -12.5%) and Iceland (down -10.1%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Traditional Caviar Exports
In 2023, the world’s average unit price for caviar made from sturgeon eggs from the Black Sea or the Caspian Sea was US$232,988 per ton. The average unit price for traditional caviar rose 5% from an average $221,862 per ton for 2022.
The top exporter of traditional caviar, mainland China, charged an above average $299,757 per ton in 2023.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries exporting traditional caviar charging the lowest unit prices in 2023.
- Malaysia: US$3,000 per ton (down -54.5% from 2022)
- South Africa: $5,667 per ton (down -37%)
- Lithuania: $11,242 per ton (down -70.1%)
- Iceland: $25,000 per ton (up 78.6%)
- Canada: $28,640 per ton (down -38.9%)
- Türkiye: $30,875 per ton (up 48.3%)
- Denmark: $45,107 per ton (down -30.3%)
- United States: $50,520 per ton (down -4.2%)
- Sweden: $68,000 per ton (up 262.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $71,818 per ton (down -45.5%)
- Latvia: $87,120 per ton (up 1.7%)
- Belarus: $90,000 per ton (up 81.6%)
- Russia: $177,500 per ton (up 304.9%)
- Poland: $181,671 per ton (up 78.4%)
- Chile: $229,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
Posting the severest reductions in unit price per ton for traditional caviar were Lithuania (down -70.1% from 2022), Malaysia (down -54.5%), United Arab Emirates (down -45.5%) then Canada (down -38.9%).
The following countries shipped exported traditional caviar at the highest average unit prices.
- Iran: US$2,051,000 per ton (up 211.4% from 2022)
- France: $728,033 per ton (up 10.5%)
- Belgium: $601,333 per ton (up 10.9%)
- Germany: $591,750 per ton (up 3.2%)
- Azerbaijan: $587,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Israel: $581,667 per ton (up 87%)
- Luxembourg: $538,000 per ton (down -8.2%)
- Greece: $522,833 per ton (up 116.8%)
- Uruguay: $491,500 per ton (up 16.4%)
- Hong Kong: $464,250 per ton (up 172.2%)
- Czech Republic: $399,000 per ton (up 893.8%)
- Madagascar: $391,667 per ton (up 13.9%)
- Italy: $380,910 per ton (down -11.5%)
- mainland China: $299,757 per ton (up 4.1%)
- United Kingdom: $277,500 per ton (down -29.5%)
Posting the greatest advances in terms of average unit price hikes for traditional caviar were: the Czech Republic (up 893.8% from 2022), Iran (up 211.4%), Hong Kong (up 172.2%) then Greece (up 116.8%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Non-Traditional Exported Caviar
In 2023, the world’s average unit price for caviar made from non-sturgeon fish eggs was US$18,832 per ton—just 8.1% of the global average unit price for traditional sturgeon caviar ($232,988 per ton).
The world average unit price for caviar alternatives grew by 69.5% from an average $18,898 per ton one year earlier during 2022.
The top exporter of caviar alternatives made from non-sturgeon fish eggs, Japan, charged a comparatively high $34,506 per ton in 2023.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries collecting the lowest average unit prices for exported caviar alternatives in 2023.
- Hungary: US$1,250 per ton (down -84.7% from 2022)
- South Africa: $2,000 per ton (up 12.5%)
- Iran: $4,000 per ton (down -65.4%)
- Greece: $6,187 per ton (up 29.3%)
- Belarus: $6,200 per ton (down -7%)
- Norway: $6,218 per ton (down -29.3%)
- Kazakhstan: $6,501 per ton (down -51.7%)
- Curaçao: $9,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Ukraine: $9,132 per ton (down -3.9%)
- Sweden: $9,680 per ton (down -3.5%)
- Vietnam: $10,273 per ton (down -60.3%)
- Armenia: $10,870 per ton (down -34%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $11,390 per ton (down -29%)
- mainland China: $13,160 per ton (down -3.4%)
- Lithuania: $13,938 per ton (up 32.1%)
Posting decreases in their average unit price per ton for non-traditional caviar since 2022 were low-cost providers Hungary (down -84.7%), Iran (down -65.4%), Vietnam (down -60.3%), Kazakhstan (down -51.7%) and Armenia (down -34%).
The following countries shipped exported caviar alternatives charging the greatest average unit prices.
- Australia: US$172,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Switzerland: $131,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- United Kingdom: $130,000 per ton (down -3.7% from 2022)
- Ireland: $83,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Luxembourg: $59,333 per ton (up 26.2%)
- Italy: $58,000 per ton (up 0.1%)
- Estonia: $56,753 per ton (up 14.9%)
- Indonesia: $48,964 per ton (down -37.2%)
- Malaysia: $47,800 per ton (up 4680%)
- Belgium: $40,578 per ton (up 41.5%)
- Finland: $40,343 per ton (up 20.9%)
- Spain: $40,308 per ton (up 42.2%)
- North Korea: $39,667 per ton (up 14%)
- Japan: $34,506 per ton (down -2.1%)
- Taiwan: $33,250 per ton (up 20.9%)
The greatest upticks in terms of higher average unit prices for non-traditional caviar in 2023 compared to 2022 belong to Malaysia (up 4,680%) then Spain (up 42.2%).
Biggest Exporters of Traditional Caviar by Weight
As measured by shipment weight, a total 916 tons in traditional sturgeon caviar was exported during 2023.
The overall weight of globally exported caviar rose 2% compared to 2022 but fell by -7.9% since 2019.
Ranked by shipped weight, listed below are the top 15 shippers of traditional caviar exports.
- mainland China: 276 tons (30.1% of traditional caviar tonnage)
- United States: 148 tons (16.2%)
- Poland: 73 tons (8%)
- Italy: 67 tons (7.3%)
- Lithuania: 62 tons (6.8%)
- Denmark: 56 tons (6.1%)
- France: 30 tons (3.3%)
- Canada: 25 tons (2.7%)
- Latvia: 25 tons (2.7%)
- Germany: 24 tons (2.6%)
- Bulgaria: 22 tons (2.4%)
- Belgium: 18 tons (2%)
- United Arab Emirates: 11 tons (1.2%)
- South Africa: 9 tons (1%)
- Madagascar: 9 tons (1%)
The strongest year-over-year increases in terms of shipment weight for traditional caviar suppliers were posted by Lithuania (up 1,140% from 2022), South Africa (up 125%), Denmark (up 86.7%) then the United States of America (up 70.1%).
Double-digit declines in total shipment weight since 2022 were experienced by suppliers in Latvia (down -28.6%), Poland (down -24.7%), France (down -16.7%) and Germany (down -11.1%).
Biggest Exporters of Non-Traditional Caviar by Weight
A total 15,070 tons of caviar from non-sturgeon fish eggs were exported around the globe in 2023.
That overall shipment tonnage reflects a -48% reduction from 29,008 tons five years earlier in 2019 and a -7.3% drop from 16,265 tons for 2022.
By weight, the following is a ranking of the 15 largest shippers of exported alternatives to traditional caviar.
- mainland China: 3,429 tons (22.8% of alternative caviar exports)
- Japan: 1,874 tons (12.4%)
- Sweden: 1,546 tons (10.3%)
- Germany: 1,270 tons (8.4%)
- Vietnam: 765 tons (5.1%)
- Kazakhstan: 703 tons (4.7%)
- Belarus: 619 tons (4.1%)
- United States: 560 tons (3.7%)
- Iceland: 503 tons (3.3%)
- Norway: 403 tons (2.7%)
- Russia: 377 tons (2.5%)
- South Korea: 376 tons (2.5%)
- Netherlands: 372 tons (2.5%)
- Armenia: 300 tons (2%)
- Ukraine: 258 tons (1.7%)
Recording the strongest increases in shipment weight of non-traditional caviar were exporters in Vietnam (up 1,679% from 2022), Armenia (up 154.2%) and the Ukraine (up 79.2%).
Decliners as measured by year-over-year volume reductions were led by suppliers in Germany (down -30.9% from 2022), Russia (down -29.5%), United States of America (down -25.9%) then mainland China (down -18%).
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 22, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 22, 2024
Wikipedia, Caviar. Accessed on August 22, 2024