Importer market guides: EU, United States, China, Japan and the Netherlands
Reference import values for 2024, the official authorities to check, and what to state in an RFQ for each market.
Short answer
According to WITS / UN Comtrade, China, the United States and the European Union were the largest importers of other fresh fruit (HS 0810) in 2024, and the European Union, the United States, China and Japan the largest importers of fish and seafood (HS 03).
Each market has its own authority and rules. Check the current requirements for your product with the official links below, then tell us the destination so suppliers quote for the right documents and packaging.
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Other fresh fruit (HS 0810): 2024 imports
| Market | Imports 2024 (US$ million) | Quantity 2024 (thousand tonnes) |
|---|---|---|
| China | 8,956.6 | 2,655.9 |
| United States | 6,288.5 | 1,193.3 |
| European Union | 2,841.0 | 657.4 |
| Germany | 2,051.0 | 462.4 |
| Netherlands | 1,569.6 | 309.4 |
HS 0810 covers fresh fruit not classified elsewhere in Chapter 8 (for example berries and kiwifruit); it excludes grapes, citrus and apples. HS 03 combines fish, crustaceans and molluscs and is not a shrimp-only figure. The European Union is reported as one bloc; member states listed separately are not additive.
Fish and seafood (HS 03): 2024 imports
| Market | Imports 2024 (US$ million) |
|---|---|
| European Union | 25,152.9 |
| United States | 20,654.0 |
| China | 15,751.9 |
| Japan | 8,972.6 |
| Spain | 6,630.5 |
European Union
EU official controls apply to all imported food and feed. Products of animal origin are admitted only from authorised countries and establishments and must travel with official certificates; certain food of non-animal origin also needs certificates. These consignments are checked at designated Border Control Posts and pre-notified through TRACES (CHED).
For your RFQ: state the member state of entry, the port or Border Control Post and who acts as importer of record.
Netherlands as an EU entry point
The Netherlands imported US$1.57 billion of other fresh fruit (HS 0810) in 2024. Dutch ports are a common entry point for refrigerated food into the EU; EU rules apply, and border checks are carried out by the Dutch authority NVWA.
United States
The United States imported US$6.29 billion of other fresh fruit and US$20.65 billion of fish and seafood in 2024. Imported food falls under the FDA; fresh fruit and vegetables also need USDA APHIS import authorisation for the specific commodity and origin; listed seafood species are covered by NOAA's Seafood Import Monitoring Program; CBP handles customs entry.
For your RFQ: name the port of entry and your customs broker, and list the documents your broker asks for.
China
China was the largest importer of other fresh fruit in 2024 (US$8.96 billion) and imported US$15.75 billion of fish and seafood. Imports are controlled by the General Administration of Customs (GACC). Before requesting quotes, check GACC's current lists of permitted origin–product combinations and registered overseas producers for your product.
Japan
Japan imported US$8.97 billion of fish and seafood in 2024. Imported food is notified to quarantine stations of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW); fresh produce is subject to plant-quarantine inspection by the Plant Protection Station of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF), and some fruit is admitted only from approved origins or after specified treatments.
Other large markets and regional hubs
Inside the EU, Spain imported US$6.63 billion of fish and seafood and Germany US$2.05 billion of other fresh fruit in 2024. For Gulf and Asian destinations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Hong Kong, see our agri-food import markets page.
Sources and official links
Market data year: 2024 (WITS / UN Comtrade) · Regulatory and source information last reviewed:
- WITS / UN Comtrade — Imports of HS 0810 (other fresh fruit), 2024 — checked 2026-10-22
- WITS / UN Comtrade — Imports of HS 03 (fish, crustaceans, molluscs), 2024 — checked 2026-10-22
- European Commission — Import controls on food and feed: Q&A — checked 2026-10-22
- European Commission — Access2Markets — official portal
- U.S. FDA — Import Program — official portal
- General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) — official portal
- Japan MHLW — Imported foods — official portal
- Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) — official portal
Frequently asked questions
Do these figures show demand for my product?
They show 2024 import values for broad HS groups. HS 0810 excludes grapes, citrus and apples, and HS 03 is not shrimp-only. Ask us about your specific product and market.
Which market is easiest to enter?
We do not rank markets by ease. Requirements depend on the HS code, product form, origin and destination, and they change; check the official authority for your case.
Can Global B2B Group act as importer of record?
No. The buyer, or the importer and customs broker it appoints, remains responsible for customs entry and compliance.
In this importer center
Country markets: 2024 trade evidence by HS code — 18 import markets and origins, hubs such as the Netherlands, seasonal windows, access rules, official authorities and an evidence-ranked corridor map. Global B2B Opportunities Center — five produce corridors with a dated status: SA cherries and stone fruit to China, Indian grapes to Vietnam, Indian produce to Canada, SA apples to Thailand. Import glossary — phytosanitary certificates, HS codes, CHED, Incoterms® and landed cost, with sources. Importer demand map — 15 markets matched to 2024 flows from Peru, Ecuador, India, Kenya and Colombia. Buyer sourcing service — one confidential request, several screened suppliers. Origin export guides — 2024 export flows and national statistics for five origins. Import duties and entry rules for fresh fruit and vegetables — where 16 markets publish duty, import VAT/GST, plant-health and food-safety rules, with a quote-request checklist (12 languages). Market entry guides: Great Britain (IPAFFS, CHED, BTOM), United States (prior notice, FSVP, APHIS), Japan (plant quarantine, food import notification), Japan buyer map (Ecuador, Peru, India, Kenya, Colombia), origin export guide for those origins, Japan import-readiness checklists, for Japanese importers, UAE and Saudi Arabia (MOCCAE, SFDA Ghad, FASAH), South Korea (MFDS registration, PLS, seafood certificates), EU via the Netherlands (phytosanitary, CHED, KCB marketing standards) and supplier certifications. Origin guide: certified organic produce from Brazil (MAPA rules, CNPO checks).
Global B2B Group is a managed sourcing service. We are not a supplier, importer of record, certifier, carrier or customs broker. Figures are dated reference points from the cited sources; availability, documents, prices and timings are confirmed for each request. No availability, regulatory clearance, delivery or savings is guaranteed. Global B2B Group accepts no paid placement: suppliers cannot pay for inclusion, ranking or recommendation. Buyers pay nothing. The selected supplier pays a fee only after the deal or project proceeds; this is disclosed to buyers. Suppliers are invited against documented selection criteria, not the fee.