In 2024, the global frozen sardine market was valued at USD 10,559.8 million. In 2025, the global market would be worth USD 10,887.1 million, showing a 3.1% year-on-year growth for frozen sardine demand. Global sales are expected to witness a growth of 3.5% CAGR in the projection period (2025 to 2035), and the sales value is expected to reach USD 15,489.9 million by the end of 2035.
Frozen sardines previously used for canning and for food service are becoming more popular for their differing nutritional values and shelf stability. Sardines, meanwhile, are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and protein, answering consumer demand for healthy, low-cost seafood options.
In addition, with improvements in cool chain logistics and freezing technology, the quality of sardines can be preserved over long distance of transport. Exports are dominated by countries like China, Vietnam, and Morocco, while demand is rapidly booming in North America and Europe, thanks to heightened awareness of sustainable seafood.
The convenience of ready-to-cook sardine products has also drawn a broad range of customers from individual households, to restaurants and large food processors. Major players such as Marine Harvest AS (Mowi ASA), Leroy Seafoods, Xiamen Taiseng Seafoods and Lyons Seafoods Ltd. have already seized the opportunity to cater to consumers trends by providing value-added products such as skinless fillets or marinated frozen sardines.
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| Attributes | Description |
|---|---|
| Estimated Global Frozen Sardine Industry Size (2025E) | USD 10,887.1 million |
| Projected Global Frozen Sardine Industry Value (2035F) | USD 15,489.9 million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 3.5% |
Frozen sardine market is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period. Its reputation as a source of sustainable, affordable, and highly nutritious protein will only continue to support expansion in both developed and emerging economies.
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The below table shows a comparative analysis of CAGR variation over a period of six months for the base year (2024) and current year (2025) for the worldwide frozen sardine economy. This assessment highlights the key performance changes along with revenue realization patterns leading to a reliable outlook of growth prospects to various stakeholders over the upcoming year.
H1, the first half of the year, is January through June. H2 covers the July-December period.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 (2024 to 2034) | 3.3% |
| H2 (2024 to 2034) | 3.4% |
| H1 (2025 to 2035) | 3.5% |
| H2 (2025 to 2035) | 3.5% |
The industry is anticipated to expand at a conservative 3.5% CAGR in the first half (H1) of 2020 to 2035, even as it moves to a steady-state average growth period in the second half (H2) of this decade. In contrast, the sector saw an expansion of 20 BPS in the first half and 10 BPS in the second half compared to 2024, suggesting a gradually improving trend.
Market Concentration
Tier 1 Companies there is a competitive set of them that are revenue dominant and market ubiquitous. Each of these players have strong brand equity and invest heavily in cold chain infrastructure, sustainable fishing practices and new product development with an eye to growing their global footprint. Leroy Seafoods, a European-Asia powerhouse with a strong supply chain that reliably delivers frozen sardines to supermarkets, food processors, and foodservice accounts.
One of the other major players is Marine Harvest AS (Mowi ASA), which has while historic to the category with salmon diversified its seafood portfolio and is expanding its frozen sardine approach with new advancements in packaging and global retail partnerships.
Tier 1 players, including Kingsun Foods Co., Ltd. and Xiamen Taiseng Seafoods Co., Ltd., have high export volumes, integrated supply networks, and relationships with longstanding clients across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Tier 2 are those brands that have comparatively lower revenues than the Tier 1 ones but are still quite strong in regional and niche international markets. One such company, Lyons Seafoods Ltd, has gained the UK and EU frozen seafood sector a strong name through responsible sourcing and private label production of high quality.
Equally notable is Shishi Zhengyuan Aquatic Product Co., Ltd., which offers a wide selection of frozen formats of sardine, and is also steadily entering high-demand Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets. These companies compete on efficiency of operations, reliability, and region-based brand loyalty to draw retail buyers, especially the value-oriented segment, and wholesale distributors.
Tier 3 would include small or new players that will continue to find their feet in the frozen sardine space. They tend to operate with little international footprint but scale rapidly through creative marketing, digital platforms and targeted export partnerships.
TLC Thai Lien and Makefood International are good examples both companies target specific export markets like Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia, where the demand for low-cost, high-protein food is exploding. These businesses still don’t have the global presence of Tier 1 companies, but their nimbleness around product localization and regulatory ecosystems has given them increasing visibility.
Demand for Clean Label Products and Health-Conscious Consuption
Shift: Increasing demand for protein-rich, low-fat and omega-3-rich food products among consumers worldwide. By promoting their nutritional profile, frozen sardines are increasingly positioned as a healthy chicken replacement or processed seafood alternative. There is a growing demand for clean-label products, wild-caught certifications and antibiotic-free fish, especially in North America, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Strategic Response: In response to this trend, Lerøy Seafood and Marine Harvest (Mowi ASA) introduced “wild-caught” and “rich in omega-3” frozen sardine SKUs. Kingsun Foods Co., Ltd. started providing readers that had MSC certification for sardines to meet the need of eco-friendly and healthoriginal consumers in the European marketplace. In emerging markets, brands like TLC Thai Lien are addressing clean-label expectations with mercury-tested and preservative-free packaging.
Growth of Frozen Ready-to-Cook and Marinated Variants
Shift: Busy lifestyles and growing demand for convenience have fueled interest in frozen sardines that are ready-to-cook, pre-cleaned or pre-marinated. This trend is increasing among urban markets across parts of the Middle East, North America and Africa.
Strategic Response: To cater to busy households, Xiamen Taiseng Seafoods Co., Ltd., introduced skinless, boneless sardine fillets in frozen pouches. AFY GIDA (Turkey) launched lemon-pepper and Mediterranean herb-marinated sardines for Middle Eastern and Eastern European retailers. Makefood International introduced vacuum-packed, pre-marinated sardines for the direct-to-retail market in North Africa, resulting in 11% regional sales growth.
Sustainable Innovation That Targets Youth
Shift: Millennials and Gen Z consumers are insisting on traceable, sustainable, and responsibly sourced seafood. These consumers also gravitate to unusual forms, such as frozen sardine patties or sardine protein snacks.
Strategic Response: Lyons Seafoods Ltd. and TLC Thai Lien also worked with sustainability certification groups to implement QR-code traceability on frozen sardine packaging. Kavil Traders has launched frozen sardine burger patties fortified with herbs and grains aimed at flexitarian consumers in India and the UK, while Shishi Zhengyuan is packaging high-protein ready-to-eat sardine snack in frozen pouches for niche fitness markets.
Growing Partnerships with Retail and HORECA
Shift: The expectation is there for the frozen stuff to be available in supermarkets, wholesale clubs and HORECA (hotels, restaurants and catering) channels. Hypermarkets and local grocers in the EU, Middle East, and ASEAN regions display growing retail penetration (Alfred and Chan, 2021).
Strategic Response: Kingsun Foods and Marine Harvest further increased their market share in Carrefour, Tesco and Metro Cash & Carry, resulting in an 8% rise in retail sales of frozen sardines. Asia's HORECA distributors also saw commercial kitchens boost supply contracts with regional distributors by Makefood International. The Fishin’ Company (USA) introduced club-size packs for wholesale and foodservice channels, growing foodservice penetration by 14%
Sustainability and ethical fishing
Shift: Consumers are favouring brands that are aligned with sustainable fishing practices, reduced plastic packaging, and carbon-neutral logistics, with growing environmental concerns. There is strong consumer desire to support marine biodiversity and sourcing traceability.
Strategic Response: To bolster its green credentials, Mowi ASA pledged to ensure that 100% of its sardine fishery certifications would be sustainable under the ASC and MSC. Britain’s Lyons Seafoods moved to recyclable and biodegradable frozen packaging, and saw a 7 percent increase in eco-conscious buyers engaging with its products. Xiamen Taiseng World Group Inc launched a “Green Ocean Initiative,” promising to cut shipping cold chain logistics carbon emissions by 15% by 2026.
Aggressively Priced to Capture Mass Market
Shift: Although frozen sardines are typically considered cheap, prices have fluctuated due to changing fuel costs and fishing regulations. But price-sensitive markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America are looking for affordable products all the time.
Strategic Response: Long term contracts with distributors were adopted by (AFY GIDA) and (Shishi Zhengyuan) to stabilize pricing in Middle Eastern markets. Kavil Traders launched bulk packs at lower per-unit prices for institutional buyers, achieving 13% sales growth in India. Based in Africa, TLC Thai Lien provides dynamic pricing to online retailers that target mass-market consumers and food security programs.
Relying on E-Commerce and Cold Chain Logistics
Shift:In the odinary channels, the e-commerce accelerates online grocery and D2C seafood into challenges and opportunities, especially in urban areas of USA., India and ASEAN markets. Dependable cold chain logistics for frozen seafood, is becoming a major point of differentiation.
Strategic Response:Kingsun Foods also worked with e-commerce stores such as Alibaba, BigBasket, and Shopee to move frozen sardines while ensuring the integrity of the cold chain process. In the Philippines, Makefood International piloted a D2C frozen seafood delivery app, achieving a 17% increase in urban customer acquisition. The Fishin’ Company increased its presence on Amazon Fresh and Instacart in the USA, allowing for same-day delivery of its frozen sardines.
Regional Adaptation Strategies
Shift:Demand for frozen sardines is regional, with flavored sardines more popular in the Middle East, while boneless fillets account for the USA and European market. Frozen whole sardines are still a staple in mass markets in Africa.
Strategic Response:In Western Europe, where consumers are looking for convenience, these sardine packs are boneless, frozen and also provided by Lyons Seafoods. AFY GIDA rolled out Arabic-spiced frozen sardines for the Gulf markets, helping drive overall 9% growth in regional sales.
Analysis of local needs and taste preferences in target Nigerian and Ghanaian markets enabled Makefood International to devise whole frozen sardine export strategies for these two countries where demand was high for traditional regional preparations and bulk consumption.
The following table shows the estimated growth rates of the top five territories. These are set to exhibit high consumption through 2035.
| Country | CAGR 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|
| USA | 3.9% |
| Germany | 4.1% |
| China | 5.3% |
| Japan | 4.8% |
| India | 5.8% |
Demand for frozen sardines is on the rise in the United States as consumers, more than ever, look to protein-rich, heart-healthy seafood. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury, sardines are growing in popularity with healthy eaters.
Frozen formats resonate with city formats and their time-starved lifestyles. Sustainability is central here, too - brands are embracing eco-friendly fishing methods and recyclable packaging. FDA support for regulation and a strong cold chain network allow broader distribution through mainstream and specialty retailers. Product innovation like pre-seasoned frozen sardines or individually quick-frozen (IQF) versions are also driving interest.
Germany’s frozen sardine market is growing thanks to increased interest in clean-label, sustainable seafood. Here, consumers are flocking to wild-caught and M.S.C.-certified sardines. German producers are pushing premium frozen items - Mediterranean-marinated sardines, say, or pre-cooked that attract health-conscious and busy shoppers.
There is strong preference for nutrient-dense fish in flexitarian and pescatarian diets and so the demand is growing. Meat Consumption Controversy Positive for Future Frozen Sardines Although all of these factors are positive, it is also important to keep in mind the growing commitment of the nation to reduce meat consumption and promote alternative, plant protein sources.
China’s expanding urban population and increasing disposable incomes are stoking demand for easy-to-prepare, high-quality seafood. Fresh sardines have become more common in retail and foodservice because of their low price point, extended shelf life and nutrition properties.
Sardine imports have also increased following government-supported efforts to promote consumption of aquatic food in an effort to relieve pressure on pork and beef supply chains. Value-added processing hubs in coastal provinces are helping producers deliver customized offerings, such as spicy marinated sardines and hotpot-ready sardines. Demand on the long term: the inclusion of sardines in school & institutional meal programs.
| Segment | Value Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| IQF (By Freezing Process Type) | 58.7% |
With an increasing number of global consumers looking for healthy and sustainable seafood options IQF, or Individually Quick Frozen, is becoming the freezing process of choice in the frozen sardine category. IQF prevents clumping and ensures the quality of the sardines throughout every step of the supply chain by freezing each fish individually, preserving each sardine's integrity, texture, and nutrition profile.
This makes a value proposition for retailers and foodservice providers who take a holistic approach to consistency, ease of handling, and food waste reduction. The surge in demand for IQF sardines has additionally been fueled by the increasing popularity of portion-controlled meals across both western and Asian markets.
This is convenient for cooking and meal planning at home and allows consumers to only pay for what they need. IQF sardines are also consistent with clean-label preferences as the freezing process avoids the use of artificial preservatives while still meeting food safety and extended shelf life.
Millions of consumers discover that, for cooking with this fish, they should rely on frozen fish, which makes up the large portion of the IQF sardines on the market today, meaning that sardines have gone from an underdeveloped fish to the backbone of ocean and frozen fish.
| Segment | Value Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| Tin Cans ( By Packaging) | 46.2% |
Due to their extended shelf life, portability and mass distribution capability, frozen sardines are being packaged in tin cans which is likely to remain the dominant packaging type in the market. Canned sardines deliver not just convenience, but a nostalgic and trusted format for consumers in markets such as Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
The packaging is designed to be airtight and protect the product from light, moisture, and contaminates, an advantage in markets with inadequate cold chain infrastructure. Besides, the tin cans are used for export, thereby promoting the world trade of sardines from major producing countries like Morocco, India, and the Philippines. This is in response to consumer demand for sustainable products which are better for the environment and manufacturers are converting to recyclable and BPA-free tin cans.
Innovation in can design, like easy-open lids and portion-controlled servings and convenient on-the-go styles, also plays into an uptick in single-person and also on-the-go households, filling this category with further growth opportunity.
Other competitors in the frozen sardine market include Thai Union Group, Dongwon Industries, and Oceana Group. By consistently supplying product, meeting international quality standards, and innovations in freezing and packaging technologies, these firms have been able to successfully gain market share.
With product offerings spanning from premium seafood to affordable options, they have secured market shares around the world, in both developed and emerging markets. Integrations in freezing manners like IQF and the intro of environment-friendly packaging formats has also began these firms separate from their regional opposition.
Moreover, large entities have sought to engage in certifications such as MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and HACCP better to showcase sustainable fishery practices and food safety, engaging the minds of eco-friendly consumers and importers alike.
Strategic mergers and acquisitions, as well as partnerships, have also served to broaden production capacity and access. Multinational brands that normally have difficulty in regional supply chains or face significant logistical hurdles have streamlined supply with partnerships with local fisheries and cold storage providers.
For instance:
The global industry is estimated at a value of USD 10887.1 million in 2025.
Sales increased at 2.6% CAGR between 2020 and 2024.
Some of the leaders in this industry include Xiamen Taiseng Seafoods Co., LTD, Marine Harvest AS, WHOLEY'S, Alga International.
The Asia Pacific is projected to hold a revenue share of 38% over the forecast period.
The industry is projected to grow at a forecast CAGR of 3.5% from 2025 to 2035.
This segment is categorized into BQF (Block Quick Freezing) and IQF (Individually Quick Frozen).
The market is segmented into Box or Carton, Bags, Tin Cans, Pouches, and Other Packaging Types.
This segment is categorised into frozen sardines are available as Whole and Fillet.
The market is classified into Retail/Household, Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Seafood Stores, Online Retailers, and the Food Service Industry, which includes hotels, restaurants, catering services, and institutional food providers who rely on frozen sardines for their consistent quality and year-round availability.
The market is segmented as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Central Asia, Russia and Belarus, Balkan & Baltic Countries, Middle East and Africa.
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