Sub Product
Frozen Argentine Shortfin Squid, Frozen Cleaned Squid, Frozen European Squid, Frozen Japanese Flying Squid, +7
Raw Materials
Fresh Squid
HS Code
030743
Last Updated
2026-06-09
Key takeaways for search and sourcing teams
- South Africa Frozen Squid market intelligence page includes 0 premium suppliers.
- 5 sampled export transactions for South Africa are summarized.
- 8 export partner companies and 9 import partner companies are mapped for Frozen Squid in South Africa.
- Wholesale sample entries: 0; farmgate sample entries: 0.
- 5 export partner countries and 0 import partner countries are ranked.
- Latest reference year in this page dataset is 2024.
- Page data last updated on 2026-06-09.
Frozen Squid Export Supplier Intelligence, Price Trends, and Trade Flows in South Africa
8 export partner companies are tracked for Frozen Squid in South Africa. Use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to validate exporter coverage, partner quality, and route priorities.
Explore Frozen Squid export intelligence in South Africa, including 5 sampled supplier transactions, monthly unit-price ranges, and partner-country trade flow patterns for HS Code 030743.
Scatter points are sampled from 48.6% of the full transaction dataset.
Sample Export Supplier Transaction Records for Frozen Squid in South Africa
5 sampled Frozen Squid transactions in South Africa include date, origin, and partner-country context to benchmark export prices and supplier trading patterns.
Frozen Squid sampled transaction unit prices by date in South Africa: 2026-01-05: 7.88 USD / kg, 2025-12-18: 10.99 USD / kg, 2025-11-04: 5.69 USD / kg, 2025-09-03: 5.40 USD / kg, 2025-08-21: 2.00 USD / kg.
| Date | Reported Product | Unit Price | Exporter | Importer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-05 | CAL***** ***** | 7.88 USD / kg | (South Africa) | (Lesotho) | |
| 2025-12-18 | CAL***** ***** | 10.99 USD / kg | (South Africa) | (Malawi) | |
| 2025-11-04 | [꼴뚜********* ************* *********** ******************** ****** ******** | 5.69 USD / kg | (South Africa) | (South Korea) | |
| 2025-09-03 | [꼴뚜********* ************* *********** ******************** ******** ***** | 5.40 USD / kg | (South Africa) | (South Korea) | |
| 2025-08-21 | Fro*** ***** ******* *********** ****** ***** *********** ****** ******** **** *** ********** | 2.00 USD / kg | (South Africa) | (Vietnam) |
Top Frozen Squid Export Suppliers and Companies in South Africa
Review leading exporter profiles and benchmark them against 8 total export partner companies tracked for Frozen Squid in South Africa. Use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to shortlist sourcing and export partners faster.
(South Africa)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-09
Employee Size: 101 - 500 Employees
Industries: Food ManufacturingOthers
Value Chain Roles: Food ManufacturingLogistics
(South Africa)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-09
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Industries: Food ManufacturingOthers
Value Chain Roles: Farming / Production / Processing / PackingFood ManufacturingOthers
(South Africa)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-09
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Retail
(South Africa)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-09
Industries: Fishing AquacultureFood ManufacturingFood Wholesalers
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFarming / Production / Processing / Packing
(South Africa)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-09
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 1M - 5M
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
(South Africa)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-09
Industries: Fishing AquacultureFood ManufacturingFood PackagingFood Services And Drinking Places
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFarming / Production / Processing / PackingFood Manufacturing
South Africa Export Partner Coverage
8 companies
Total export partner company count is a core signal of South Africa export network depth for Frozen Squid.
Exporters and importers can open Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to assess Frozen Squid partner concentration, capacity signals, and trade relevance in South Africa.
Annual Export Value, Volume, and Supplier Market Size for Frozen Squid in South Africa (HS Code 030743)
Analyze 3 years of Frozen Squid export volume and value in South Africa to evaluate supplier market growth, seasonality, and trade volatility.
| Year | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17,206,010 | 88,857,339 USD |
| 2023 | 4,658,448 | 49,557,618 USD |
| 2022 | 6,463,271 | 66,913,016 USD |
Top Destination Markets for Frozen Squid Exports from South Africa (HS Code 030743) in 2024
For 2024, compare export volume and value across the top 5 destination countries for Frozen Squid exports from South Africa.
| Rank | Country | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 7,546,829.312 | 38,974,241.554 USD |
| 2 | Spain | 5,740,550.023 | 29,646,037.293 USD |
| 3 | Greece | 1,687,868.565 | 8,716,693.386 USD |
| 4 | Portugal | 854,826.644 | 4,414,598.335 USD |
| 5 | Croatia | 374,432.97 | 1,933,691.674 USD |
Frozen Squid Import Buyer Intelligence and Price Signals in South Africa: Buyers, Demand, and Trade Partners
9 import partner companies are tracked for Frozen Squid in South Africa. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to analyze buyer demand, partner density, and downstream channels.
Scatter points are sampled from 89.7% of the full transaction dataset.
Sample Import Transaction and Price Records for Frozen Squid in South Africa
5 sampled Frozen Squid import transactions in South Africa provide date, origin, and trade-country context to benchmark price levels and demand-side trading patterns.
Frozen Squid sampled import transaction unit prices by date in South Africa: 2026-04-13: 1.60 USD / kg, 2026-04-03: 1.72 USD / kg, 2025-12-01: 2.66 USD / kg, 2025-11-17: 3.02 USD / kg, 2025-11-07: 2.69 USD / kg.
| Date | Reported Product | Unit Price | Exporter | Importer | Origin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | FRO*** ***** ***** ***** ******* *********** ***** ****** **** **** | 1.60 USD / kg | (-) | (-) | - | |
| 2026-04-03 | 135**** ****** ***** ***** ********** ***** ****** *** ************* ************** *************** | 1.72 USD / kg | (-) | (-) | - | |
| 2025-12-01 | JIB*** ******** * ********* ********* * ***** ********** | 2.66 USD / kg | (-) | (-) | - | |
| 2025-11-17 | JIB*** ******** * ********* ********* * ***** ********** | 3.02 USD / kg | (-) | (-) | - | |
| 2025-11-07 | JIB*** ******** * ********* ********* * ***** ********** | 2.69 USD / kg | (-) | (-) | - |
Top Frozen Squid Buyers, Importers, and Demand Partners in South Africa
Review leading buyer profiles and compare them with 9 total import partner companies tracked for Frozen Squid in South Africa. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to evaluate demand-side partner fit.
(South Africa)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-09
Industries: Brokers And Trade AgenciesFishing AquacultureFood ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Farming / Production / Processing / PackingTrade
(South Africa)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-09
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 10M - 50M
Industries: Food Wholesalers
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleTrade
(South Africa)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-09
Industries: Fishing AquacultureFood ManufacturingFood PackagingFood Services And Drinking PlacesOthers
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFarming / Production / Processing / PackingFood ManufacturingOthersRetail
(South Africa)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-09
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Industries: Beverage ManufacturingFood ManufacturingFood Services And Drinking PlacesOthers
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFarming / Production / Processing / PackingFood ManufacturingHORECAOthersRetailTrade
(South Africa)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-09
Industries: Brokers And Trade AgenciesFood ManufacturingFood Services And Drinking Places
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleTrade
(South Africa)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-09
Employee Size: 51 - 100 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 5M - 10M
Industries: Brokers And Trade AgenciesFishing AquacultureFood ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: LogisticsTrade
South Africa Import Partner Coverage
9 companies
Import partner company count highlights demand-side visibility for Frozen Squid in South Africa.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics and company profiles to identify active Frozen Squid importers, distributors, and buyer networks in South Africa.
Annual Import Value, Volume, and Demand Size for Frozen Squid in South Africa (HS Code 030743)
Track 2 years of Frozen Squid import volume and value in South Africa to assess demand growth and market momentum.
| Year | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,987,447 | 17,610,237 USD |
| 2022 | 4,474,573 | 14,721,948 USD |
Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFrozen
Industry PositionPrimary Fishery Product
Raw Material
Market
Frozen squid from South Africa is closely linked to the wild-caught Cape Hope squid ("chokka", Loligo reynaudii) jig fishery along the country’s south coast, with the operational centre of gravity on the Eastern Cape coast. The product is an export-oriented seafood item, with significant volumes shipped to Southern European markets, typically in frozen presentations (e.g., whole round or processed forms). Supply availability can be disrupted by fishery management measures such as closed seasons and effort controls, as well as natural variability in squid abundance. For EU-bound trade, catch documentation under the EU IUU regime (and the transition to digital CATCH workflows) is a critical compliance gating factor that can block market entry if mishandled.
Market RoleProducer and exporter (export-oriented wild-caught squid market)
Domestic RoleCommercial fishery supporting domestic processing/freezing and some local consumption alongside exports
SeasonalityCatch availability is influenced by fishery closed seasons (spawning protection) and variable squid abundance; freezing enables year-round trade even when landings fluctuate.
Specification
Primary VarietyCape Hope squid (chokka) — Loligo reynaudii
Physical Attributes
- Size grading by mantle length (e.g., S/M/L/XL) is used in exporter specifications for frozen squid.
Grades
- Commercial grading commonly uses size categories and presentation (e.g., whole round vs. processed forms) per buyer specification.
Packaging
- Frozen squid is commonly packed in master cartons, including block formats (e.g., ~5 kg or ~11 kg blocks) depending on buyer program.
Supply Chain
Value Chain
- Hand-jig capture (Eastern Cape) → landing and first handling → grading/sorting and (optional) cleaning → freezing (sea-frozen or land-frozen; block or IWP) → cold storage → reefer container export via seaports
Temperature
- Frozen product handling requires a maintained frozen cold chain; Codex references frozen storage capability at −18°C.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighEU-bound frozen squid trade can be blocked if catch certification is missing, invalid, or not properly validated under the EU IUU framework; the shift to mandatory digital CATCH workflows from 10 January 2026 increases the operational risk of documentation errors disrupting shipments to Southern Europe.Implement shipment-level catch-document controls (vessel linkage, lot traceability, validation authority sign-off) and run pre-departure checks aligned to EU CATCH/TRACES workflows for post-10 Jan 2026 imports.
Resource Availability MediumShort-notice supply tightness can occur due to closed seasons and effort controls designed to protect spawning stock, combined with natural variability in squid abundance along the south/east coast.Contract for flexible delivery windows, diversify supplier base across Eastern Cape operators, and maintain contingency inventory for peak-demand periods in export programs.
Cold Chain MediumFrozen squid quality and acceptance are sensitive to cold-chain integrity; temperature abuse can drive buyer claims or rejection in strict import channels.Use validated cold stores and reefer monitoring, document temperature control, and align handling SOPs to Codex guidance for frozen fishery products.
Sustainability
- Resource availability volatility: chokka squid abundance and landings can fluctuate, and the fishery uses closed seasons and effort controls to protect spawning stock.
- Fishery method impacts: hand-line jigging is selective with low bycatch potential; ongoing improvement actions may address localized habitat impacts (e.g., anchoring).
Labor & Social
- Livelihood dependence in Eastern Cape coastal communities and scrutiny of vessel/crew safety and training expectations in commercial fishing operations.
FAQ
What squid species is most closely associated with South Africa’s frozen squid export trade?South Africa’s frozen squid trade is closely associated with Cape Hope squid, known locally as “chokka” (Loligo reynaudii), caught by the squid jig fishery along the south coast with a strong Eastern Cape base.
Why is catch documentation a critical market-access issue for South African frozen squid shipped to the EU?Under the EU IUU framework (Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008), fishery products imported into the EU must be accompanied by a catch certificate validated by the flag State, and imports can be refused if the documentation is missing or invalid. EU workflows also transition to mandatory digital CATCH processing from 10 January 2026, increasing the importance of error-free certificate handling.
Where in South Africa is the core chokka squid fishery activity concentrated?The squid jig sector is described as being based in the Eastern Cape, with much of the fishing occurring along the south coast corridor between Plettenberg Bay and Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth, including St Francis Bay as a key hub.
Sources
Other Frozen Squid Country Markets for Supplier, Export, and Price Comparison from South Africa
Compare Frozen Squid supplier coverage, trade flows, and price benchmarks across countries related to South Africa.
All related country market pages: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Peru, Spain, Italy, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, United States, Chile, France, Mexico, Greece, Nigeria, Argentina, Hong Kong, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Egypt, Senegal, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Portugal, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iceland, Turkiye, Denmark, Morocco, Philippines, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Falkland Islands, Colombia, Israel, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Oman, Russia, Ecuador, Australia, Croatia, Tunisia, Albania, Germany, Myanmar [Burma], Panama, Finland, Vanuatu, Slovenia, Ivory Coast, Singapore, Bahrain, Cyprus, Puerto Rico, Norway, Austria, Seychelles, Venezuela, Macao, Bulgaria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Benin, Bermuda, Brunei, Bolivia, Bahamas, Botswana, Belize, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Cuba, Czechia, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Greenland, Guinea, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Moldova, Montenegro, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Macedonia, Mongolia, Martinique, Malta, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, New Caledonia, Niger, Nicaragua, Nepal, Poland, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Slovakia, El Salvador, Uzbekistan, Mayotte, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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Browse parent, sub, derived, and raw-material product market pages related to Frozen Squid.
Raw materials: Fresh Squid
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