Top 5 Frozen Octopus Exporters

Global trade in octopus is sizable (worth ~$2.2 billion in 2023) and highly concentrated among a few exporting nations. Recent data show that five key countries account for the majority of octopus exports by value and volume. Below are the Top 5 Exporters of octopus based on the latest trade statistics:

Morocco

The world’s leading octopus exporter. In 2023, Morocco shipped approximately $612 million worth of octopus, solidifying its #1 position globally. This likely corresponds to around 40–45 thousand tonnes (given high prices). Morocco’s exports are primarily frozen whole octopus from its Atlantic fisheries (including Western Saharan ports like Dakhla). The EU (especially Spain, Italy) and East Asia (Japan) are its biggest customers. In 2022, Morocco exported 40,044 tonnes of octopus to the EU alone. With the 2025 quota increase, Morocco aims to maintain its top status.

Insight: Moroccan octopus is prized for size and quality – often graded “T1-T3” large sizes – and thus commands top dollar. Export pricing fluctuated in recent years: Moroccan FOB prices dipped through most of 2022 then jumped sharply by early 2023 as supply tightened. Buyers in Spain have a symbiotic relationship with Moroccan suppliers, given the proximity and volume – as evidenced by an enormous flow of $732 million of (mostly) octopus from Morocco to Spain in 2023.

Spain

A unique case as both a major importer and re-exporter. Spain appears as the second-largest “exporter” with about $384 million in exports in 2023. How can this be, given Spain’s domestic catch is small? Spain is a re-export hub. Spanish companies import massive quantities from Morocco, Mauritania, etc., some of which they re-process (e.g. thaw and cook, or re-pack) and then export to other markets or other EU countries. In 2021, Spain handled two-thirds of the EU’s octopus imports and then distributed product onward. The main destinations of Spanish octopus exports include Italy, Portugal, and the United States.

Spanish companies like those in Galicia add value by tenderizing and cooking octopus (a popular format in Europe is ready-to-eat cooked octopus). Thus, Spain’s export figures reflect its role as a processor and trader.

Insight: When interpreting Spanish export data, note that much of it is originally foreign octopus that’s been through Spain. Case in point: Spain “exported” ~26,000 tonnes to other EU countries in 2022, while simultaneously importing a similar magnitude from Morocco and Mauritania. For buyers, Spain offers the advantage of consolidated supply, consistent quality (they sort grades carefully), and immediate EU availability – which is why even Italy often buys “Spanish” octopus that is actually Moroccan in origin.

Mauritania

A close competitor to Morocco. Mauritania exported roughly $365 million of octopus in 2023. Volume-wise, this likely translates to ~25–30,000 tonnes (depending on price). Mauritanian octopus also predominantly goes to Spain, Japan, and Italy. In fact, Mauritania has lately become Japan’s number one supplier: in the first 9 months of 2023, Mauritania shipped 8,069 tonnes to Japan, overtaking China. It also increased exports to South Korea by 75% in that period. Mauritanian octopus tends to be slightly smaller on average than Moroccan (the stock has been heavily fished), but it’s still high quality and often indistinguishable in final markets.

Insight: Mauritania has fewer domestic processors than Morocco, so a lot of its catch is exported whole frozen or even sent to third countries (e.g. China) for processing. That means Mauritanian origin product might show up re-exported by other countries (contributing to their export stats). But with strong demand from Spain and Japan, Mauritania ships a lot direct. It supplied about 9.28% of all Mauritanian exports by value in 2023 (i.e. octopus is a huge part of Mauritania’s economy). For buyers, Mauritanian octopus is usually offered alongside Moroccan in catalogs, sometimes at a slight discount if sizes are smaller. Both are considered “West Africa octopus” and share similar desirable qualities (tender flesh when properly treated, good yield).

China

A major producer and re-exporter. While not in the top 3 by value in 2023, China is certainly among the top 5 exporters. China’s exact octopus export figures for 2023 are not fully reported, but indications suggest it is on the order of $250–300+ million. However, much of China’s export volume is not native-caught O. vulgaris, but rather smaller octopus species or re-exports of African octopus. Chinese companies import octopus from Africa and Southeast Asia, often perform value-add processing (cleaning, slicing, or simply use China as a transshipment point due to cost advantages), and then export the product.

Insight: China’s role is twofold – a primary producer of small octopus and an assembler of imported octopus for re-export. It was the largest supplier to South Korea in 2023, covering 47% of Korea’s imports. Chinese-exported octopus is often in forms like boiled octopus slices (for Japan’s sushi industry) or bulk frozen baby octopus (for Korea’s nakji dishes). The value per ton tends to be lower than Moroccan product because of smaller size or lower labor costs, which is why China’s total export value may rank below Morocco despite huge volumes. Buyers dealing with China benefit from price, but must mind traceability since origin could be mixed.

Mexico

Leading New World exporter. Mexico has climbed into the top-five exporter list recently, thanks to its Yucatán fishery. In 2022, Mexico’s octopus exports were about $94 million for ~5,887 tonnes. For 2023, preliminary data suggests similar or slightly higher value (depending on catch and price). While 5–6 thousand tonnes is far below Morocco or Mauritania, Mexico’s exports are valuable because of their high quality (Octopus maya is thick and meaty) and strategic timing (harvested when other sources are off-season).

Mexico primarily exports to the USA (43% of export value) and Europe (e.g. Italy 16%, Portugal 9%, Greece 7%). This indicates Mexico has diversified markets: the U.S. has developed a taste for octopus (especially in ethnic and fine dining sectors), and southern Europe supplements African supply with Mexican product in autumn. Mexico’s share of global export volume is relatively small, but by filling niche demand windows, it commands a strong position.

Insight: Mexico’s octopus fishery is considered well-managed and has consistent output, which appeals to buyers looking for stable supply. However, Mexican octopus are a different species mix (O. maya and O. vulgaris), sometimes sold interchangeably. The Maya octopus (“red octopus”) has slightly different texture – some Spanish processors like to blend it with African octopus in products like pulpo cocido to balance quality and cost. For Mexican suppliers, improving processing (many freeze the catch promptly at shore plants) has allowed them to export more widely. Mexican octopus, especially larger sizes, often end up in Spain labeled as premium product (sometimes even re-exported by Spain onward). So Mexico’s influence extends beyond its raw export tonnage.

Rounding out the top exporters beyond these five would be Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, which each export notable quantities (mostly of smaller octopus species and baby octopus, catering largely to Northeast Asian markets). Senegal is also an important West African exporter, sending octopus to Europe. But Senegal’s export value is lower, and much of its catch is also sold through Spain.

If you’re ready to source high-quality frozen octopus or want a custom quote, visit our octopus product page to get started today. You can also check out our full guide on octopus sourcing and market dynamics.

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