Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFrozen
Industry PositionPrimary Seafood Product
Raw Material
Commodity GroupPelagic marine fish (jack mackerel / horse mackerel group)
Scientific NameTrachurus spp.
PerishabilityHigh
Growing Conditions- Wild-caught in pelagic marine waters (temperate to subtropical), commonly using purse seine and mid-water trawl gears
- Operational quality depends on rapid chilling after capture and fast freezing to minimize spoilage and texture damage
Main VarietiesTrachurus murphyi, Trachurus trachurus, Trachurus japonicus, Trachurus picturatus
Consumption Forms- Frozen whole round for household cooking
- Further processing (e.g., headless & gutted or portioning) depending on destination market
- Canning and other secondary processing in some markets
- Industrial uses depending on grade/market conditions
Grading Factors- Size grade (g/fish or pcs/kg)
- Whole-round integrity (damage, bruising, belly burst)
- Glaze percentage and net weight (if glazed)
- Sensory freshness (odor/appearance) prior to freezing
- Core temperature at loading and evidence of cold-chain continuity
Market
Frozen whole jack/horse mackerel is a globally traded pelagic fish commodity typically captured wild and moved through an export-oriented freezing and cold-chain logistics system. In trade statistics it commonly maps to HS 030355 (frozen jack and horse mackerel, Trachurus spp.), spanning multiple Trachurus species supplied from both the South Pacific (e.g., Chilean jack mackerel) and the Atlantic/Mediterranean (horse mackerel). Demand is concentrated in price-sensitive mass markets where frozen whole fish is a staple protein, and trade flows can shift quickly with exchange rates, freight costs, and port/cold-store reliability. Supply and trade availability are highly exposed to fisheries management measures (including RFMO catch limits) and climate-driven stock variability that affect catch volumes and timing.
Major Producing Countries- 칠레Key harvester and exporter for Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) supply linked to the SPRFMO management area.
- 페루Major supplier of jack mackerel products for direct human consumption and export from the South-East Pacific.
- 모리타니Significant Atlantic horse mackerel supply base and exporter in HS 030355 trade statistics (verify latest year in UN Comtrade/ITC).
Major Exporting Countries- 칠레Among the largest exporters reported under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
- 페루Among the largest exporters reported under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
- 모리타니Reported as a major exporter under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
Major Importing Countries- 나이지리아Frequently appears as a major import market under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
- 이집트Reported as a significant import market under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
- 모잠비크Reported as a significant import market under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
- 사우디아라비아Reported as a significant import market under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
- 베냉Reported as a significant import market under HS 030355 in UN Comtrade-derived compilations; verify by year and reporting coverage.
Specification
Major VarietiesTrachurus murphyi (Chilean jack mackerel), Trachurus trachurus (Atlantic horse mackerel), Trachurus japonicus (Japanese jack mackerel), Trachurus picturatus (blue jack mackerel)
Physical Attributes- Typically traded as whole round frozen fish; size grading commonly expressed as grams per fish or pieces per kilogram
- Quality risks include skin damage, belly burst, dehydration/freezer burn, and oxidation-related rancidity during long storage
Compositional Metrics- Buyer specifications commonly include net weight vs. glaze, core temperature at loading, and sensory freshness parameters (odor/appearance)
- Food safety programs often reference Codex-aligned hygienic handling controls across the cold chain for fish and fishery products
Packaging- Bulk master cartons (often 10–25 kg) with poly liners; block frozen formats are common for whole fish
- Some supply is sold as IQF whole round depending on plant/freezer configuration and buyer requirement
ProcessingMinimal processing beyond grading/sorting, freezing (plate/block/IQF), optional glazing, and export packingMay be marketed for direct human consumption or as industrial-grade raw material depending on size/condition and destination requirements
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Wild capture (purse seine / mid-water trawl) -> onboard chilling/RSW or ice -> landing -> grading/sorting -> freezing -> cold storage -> reefer shipment -> destination cold store -> wholesale/retail or further processing
Demand Drivers- Affordable animal protein for mass-market consumption where frozen whole fish is a staple
- Industrial and secondary processing demand (e.g., further processing, canning, or other transformation depending on market)
Temperature- Maintain continuous frozen cold chain; guidance commonly references storage/distribution at -18°C or below for quick-frozen foods, with lower temperatures used to slow quality loss over longer storage periods
Shelf Life- Storage life and quality retention are strongly temperature-dependent; dehydration and lipid oxidation are key quality-limiting mechanisms for frozen fish during extended storage
Risks
Fisheries Management And Stock Variability HighSupply is exposed to abrupt changes in catch availability driven by stock variability and binding fisheries management measures (including RFMO catch limits and reporting/verification requirements). For Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) in the South Pacific high seas, SPRFMO management measures (CMM 01) structure allowable catch and compliance, which can constrain supply and shift trade flows when limits tighten or enforcement actions occur.Diversify sourcing across species/regions within Trachurus trade (where buyer specs allow), require verifiable catch documentation and vessel authorization status, and maintain contingency inventory and alternative product substitutions for key markets.
Illegal Fishing And Traceability MediumIUU fishing and opaque transshipment can introduce legal, ESG, and customs detention risks, particularly for bulk frozen pelagic commodities traded into high-risk markets.Implement due diligence screening (vessel lists, RFMO/IUU listings, flag state documentation), require lot-level traceability, and use third-party verification where risk warrants.
Cold Chain Integrity MediumTemperature abuse during storage, transshipment, or inland distribution can cause quality loss (freezer burn, oxidation) and increase buyer rejection risk, especially in markets with constrained cold infrastructure.Specify core temperature at loading, use continuous temperature monitoring and data loggers, and select ports/warehouses with validated frozen handling performance.
Food Safety MediumFood safety compliance depends on hygienic handling, rapid freezing, and sustained frozen storage; failures can trigger border rejections and recalls. Codex-aligned codes of practice set expectations for safe handling of fish and fishery products across harvest, processing, and distribution.Align HACCP plans to Codex guidance, control time/temperature throughout harvest-to-freeze, and verify plant hygiene and sampling/testing programs for buyer/regulatory requirements.
Sustainability- Stock sustainability and quota compliance (RFMO-managed fisheries and national measures)
- Climate variability (e.g., ocean temperature anomalies affecting pelagic stock distribution and recruitment)
- IUU fishing and transshipment opacity risks in some pelagic supply chains
- Traceability expectations (flag state controls, catch documentation, and buyer due diligence for high-risk fisheries)
Labor & Social- Forced labour and human trafficking risks documented in parts of the commercial fishing sector, especially where work is isolated at sea and oversight is weak
- Migrant worker vulnerability and recruitment-fee/debt risks in some distant-water fishing and seafood logistics chains
FAQ
What HS code is commonly used for frozen whole jack/horse mackerel in global trade statistics?A common 6-digit classification is HS 030355, which covers frozen jack and horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304.
What storage temperature is typically referenced for quick-frozen foods in international guidance?International guidance commonly uses -18°C as a reference temperature for storage and distribution of quick-frozen foods, and fishery cold-chain guidance emphasizes maintaining frozen products at -18°C or below (often lower for longer storage life).
Who sets high-seas management measures for Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) in the South Pacific?In the South Pacific high seas context, the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) sets binding Conservation and Management Measures for Trachurus murphyi, including CMM 01.