Norway was the largest outside supplier.
What this market covers
Oily fish caught in northern seas and sold fresh, frozen, smoked, salted and canned. Buyers are fish processors, supermarkets and food service firms.
Typical segments
- Fresh and frozen herring
- Smoked herring
- Pickled and marinated herring
- Canned herring
- Herring roe and oil
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value rose 41% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €22.2 million of products under CN code 03024100 (Fresh or chilled herring "Clupea harengus, clupea pallasii") from outside the EU in 2025. | 22.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 03024100 were up 41% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€15.7 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +41 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 03024100 to countries outside the EU were worth €28.0 million in 2025. | 28.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 03024100 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €44.0 million in 2025. | 44.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Norway was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 03024100 to the EU in 2025, with €22.1 million, or 100% of extra-EU imports. | 22.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 03024100 to the United States were €21 thousand in 2025. | 21 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 03024100 was €1.03 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 1.03 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Denmark was the largest EU exporter of CN 03024100 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €27.9 million. | 27.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 3,330 enterprises in NACE class C1020 (Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs) in 2023. | 3,330 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C1020 had net turnover of €35.30 billion in 2023. | 35.30 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1020 employed 109,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 109,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 846 private establishments in NAICS 311710 (Seafood product preparation and packaging) in 2025. | 846 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 311710 employed an average of 32,968 people in US private industry in 2025. | 32,968 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 311710 changed by +2% between 2020 (32,298 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +2 % since 2020 | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 311710 was $66,606 in 2025. | 66,606 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03024100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 22182971
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03024100, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 15725245; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 22182971
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03024100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 27998929
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03024100, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 44014341
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03024100, partner NO, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 22111659
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03024100, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 20701
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 03024100, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 22182971, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 214911
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter DK, product 03024100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 27852181
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1020, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 3330
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1020, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 35300
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1020, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 109000
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 311710, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311710, annual_avg_estabs 846
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311710, annual_avg_emplvl 32968
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 32298; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 32968
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311710, avg_annual_pay 66606
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Fish processors
- Supermarkets
- Food service firms
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU herring market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €22.2 million of goods under CN 03024100 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €28.0 million.
Where does the EU import herring from?
Norway was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United Kingdom, Faroe Islands.
What is the average import price of herring in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €1.03 per kilogram for CN 03024100 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most herring?
Denmark led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Netherlands, Germany.
How many US companies are in the herring industry?
BLS counts 846 private establishments in NAICS 311710 (Seafood product preparation and packaging), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the herring industry?
Eurostat counts 3,330 enterprises in NACE class C1020 (Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs).
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