Half of all the fish caught in South Africa is exported to the European Union (EU). Cape hake is the most popular fish species, making up more than 50 percent.
South Africa is a net exporter of fish with the EU proven to be a stable market. South Africa’s main commercial fisheries total catch in 2013 totalled 427 000 tons, Cape hake making up 40 percent of this, while the Western Cape was responsible for 90 percent and 85 percent of total fish exports.
Although the EU was an important market for fish exports, it does not compare with citrus and wine exports.