Middle East And Africa Canned Seafood Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Middle East And Africa Canned Seafood Market Trends and Insights

Rising demand for convenient protein sources

Urbanization, the rise of nuclear households, and a growing female workforce are reshaping meal planning, with ready-to-eat seafood taking center stage. These demographic and lifestyle shifts are driving demand for convenient, nutritious, and shelf-stable food options. Canned fish, rich in omega-3, protein, and iron, sidesteps the perishability issues of fresh catches, offering a practical solution for busy households. This makes it especially appealing during Ramadan, a time when households stock up on non-perishable staples to meet increased meal preparation needs. These now boast convenient, easy-open lids and healthier reduced-sodium formulations, catering to health-conscious consumers. In both Lagos and Riyadh, the inclusion of canned mackerel in school lunch programs highlights its growing institutional acceptance, as schools prioritize affordable and nutritious meal options for students. With rising purchasing power, consumers are leaning towards premium, ready-to-serve options that promise consistent taste, high nutritional value, and time-saving benefits.

Expanding modern retail and e-commerce footprint

In Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Accra, hypermarket giants Carrefour and LuLu, among others, unveil new outlets boasting broader selections and specialized seafood sections, catering to the growing demand for diverse product offerings. While private label canned sardines carve a niche by pricing lower than their branded counterparts, they also appeal to cost-conscious consumers seeking value without compromising on quality. However, it's the digital realm that witnesses the most pronounced growth. Egypt's online retail value is set to double from 2024 to 2029, driven by increasing internet penetration and consumer preference for convenience^{[1]Source: Egyptian Ministry of Communication,"ITIDA, CARITech Partner to Advance Software Development, Elevate IT Knowledge", mcit.gov.eg}. Capitalizing on this trend, Talabat and Noon Grocery harness same-day delivery, positioning shelf-stable seafood as a convenient add-on for last-minute purchases. Meanwhile, subscription services facilitate monthly tuna multipack restocks, ensuring consistent availability for regular consumers. Retail analytics spotlight a trend: bundling canned seafood with pasta and tomato paste elevates average order values, signaling potential for cross-category promotions that could further enhance customer engagement and drive sales.

Growing domestic fish-processing capacity

Nigeria's Lekki processing complex aims to enhance local production capacity, reduce import dependence, and create thousands of skilled jobs. This initiative is expected to strengthen the country's seafood processing capabilities and contribute to economic growth by fostering local employment opportunities. In South Africa's Western Cape, upgrades to canning lines now feature automated retorts, which not only boost output but also significantly lower energy consumption per unit, making operations more sustainable and cost-efficient. Khalifa Port's food cluster in the UAE draws foreign direct investment, establishing integrated cold storage and canning facilities. These facilities are designed to consolidate regional supply, ensuring efficient storage and processing before streamlined distribution to Gulf supermarkets. Collectively, these efforts enhance local value addition, bolster traceability, and shorten lead times in the canned seafood market across the Middle East and Africa, addressing key challenges in the supply chain and meeting growing consumer demand.

Government food-security stock-piling

Gulf Cooperation Council states have designated canned tuna, sardines, and mackerel as vital staples in their national emergency reserves, recognizing their importance in ensuring food security during crises. In a move to bolster local aquaculture and ensure a steady supply for domestic canneries, Abu Dhabi has allocated a significant budget to bolster its aquaculture infrastructure and boost production capabilities. In a bid to counteract supply disruptions and stabilize prices, Egypt has added imported sardines to its strategic buffer stock, a move designed to shield the market from volatility. The African Development Bank, through multilateral programs, is training coastal cooperatives in value-added packaging techniques, such as vacuum sealing and labeling, to improve product quality. This initiative not only extends the shelf life of wild-caught species but also ensures safer storage and better marketability. Collectively, these actions solidify a consistent demand, even during economic downturns, by institutionalizing baseline consumption patterns.

Volatile wild-catch volumes and over-fishing limits

Europe quota cuts for mackerel and sardines, combined with NOAA's restrictions on Pacific cod, are tightening the raw-material supply for regional canneries, leading to increased competition for limited resources and higher procurement costs. Ghana's annual closed season significantly reduces coastal landings, compelling processors to depend on more expensive frozen imports to sustain production levels.. El Niño conditions have curtailed Peruvian anchovy harvests, significantly driving up fishmeal costs, which subsequently inflate sardine prices and strain profit margins for processors^{[2]Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations," Globefish Highlights 2024", openknowledge.fao.org}. This supply volatility not only complicates annual procurement planning by introducing unpredictability in raw material availability and costs but can also lead to temporary dips in plant utilization rates, falling short of optimal levels and negatively impacting overall operational efficiency and output consistency.

Rising consumer preference for fresh and frozen seafood

Affluent Gulf households, buoyed by rising disposable incomes and a pivot towards healthier eating, are increasingly favoring premium chilled Norwegian salmon and locally farmed sea bass. Recent surveys reveal that a significant number of UAE shoppers purchase fresh fillets at least bi-monthly, underscoring a robust demand for top-tier seafood. E-commerce studies highlight that seafood from coastal origins enjoys a purchasing edge over inland counterparts, hinting at a perception of superior quality that sidelines processed options^{[3]Source: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, "Inland or Coastal? Neural and Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Consumer Preferences for Seafood Origin in E-Commerce", mdpi.com}. Kuwait's newly automated distribution center is revolutionizing the cold chain, diminishing the once-convenient edge of canned products by ensuring fresh options with minimal spoilage. Meanwhile, as social media influencers tout sushi and poke bowls, fresh seafood is being elevated to an aspirational status, resonating with consumers desiring trendy, premium dining. This evolution is stifling the growth of canned seafood among affluent consumers, who now equate freshness with quality and lifestyle aspirations.

Segment Analysis

By Product Type: Canned Fish Dominance Drives Market Leadership

In 2025, canned fish commands a dominant 45.78% share of the canned seafood market in the Middle East and Africa. This stronghold is bolstered by deep-rooted culinary traditions, competitive pricing, and heightened promotional efforts during peak retail seasons. Tuna stands out as the favored choice, seamlessly fitting into salads, stews, and school lunches, making it a staple in many households. Meanwhile, sardines and mackerel enrich North African diets, harmonizing with local recipes that emphasize tomato-based sauces, which are widely popular in the region. Although salmon occupies a niche position, it boasts impressive double-digit volume growth in UAE's duty-free and premium supermarket sectors, underscoring a growing health consciousness and a readiness to invest in omega-3-rich foods. This trend reflects a shift in consumer preferences toward healthier and more premium options.

Canned prawns are set to lead the market with a 7.41% CAGR through 2031. Their premium status and popularity among expatriates recreating Asian and Mediterranean dishes at home drive this growth. Their versatility across cuisines and appeal to consumers seeking high-quality seafood further boost demand. Halal-compliant processing assures Muslim consumers of religious adherence, broadening the product's accessibility. Canned shrimp, with steady mid-single-digit growth, is popular in fried rice and instant noodles, especially among college students valuing convenience and affordability. Niche offerings like canned octopus and squid, though starting from a modest base, are gaining traction as food-service operators in cities like Dubai and Cape Town incorporate them into tapas-style menus to meet evolving dining trends. Thai Union has introduced an algae-based tuna substitute, targeting the flexitarian market and signaling potential category expansions. This innovation highlights the industry's focus on sustainability and meeting the demands of health-conscious, environmentally aware consumers.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Distribution Channel: Traditional Retail Maintains Dominance Amid Digital Disruption

In 2025, supermarkets and hypermarkets dominate the Middle East and Africa's canned seafood market, holding a 61.74% share. Their prominence underscores their pivotal role in weekly household shopping. Even as foot traffic stabilizes in the post-pandemic landscape, these retailers achieve volume gains through aggressive marketing campaigns, loyalty apps, and an expansion of private labels. These strategies not only drive customer retention but also enhance brand loyalty. Notably, end-aisle promotions during the Ramadan and Christmas seasons boost product visibility, encouraging consumers to stock their pantries with essential canned seafood products for festive meals and gatherings.

Online retail, starting from a smaller base, boasts a robust 7.05% CAGR. This growth is fueled by fast-grocery apps in cities like Cairo, Riyadh, and Nairobi, which promise deliveries in just 30 minutes. These platforms enhance consumer trust and justify premium pricing by offering detailed product information, such as origin, omega-3 content, and can-lining specifications. The convenience of quick delivery and transparency in product details appeals to a growing segment of tech-savvy and health-conscious consumers. In densely populated metropolitan areas, convenience stores flourish, with lunchtime patrons frequently topping up on single-serve tuna packs. These stores cater to the fast-paced lifestyles of urban dwellers, providing quick and easy meal solutions. Meanwhile, as tourism rebounds, food-service demand sees a resurgence. Hotel buffets in Dubai and safari lodges in Kenya are now bulk ordering 1 kg cans, catering to salad bars and sandwiches, which are popular among tourists seeking diverse and convenient dining options.

Geography Analysis

In 2025, Saudi Arabia, buoyed by its 35 million-strong population and robust purchasing power, commands a dominant 26.20% share of the market revenue. The nation's Vision 2030 is channeling investments into aquaculture clusters along the Red Sea, aiming to boost domestic production of canned tuna and sardines. These initiatives are designed to reduce reliance on imports while fostering local industries and creating employment opportunities. Meanwhile, retailers are harnessing loyalty programs, turning promotional data into targeted offers, effectively increasing sales among middle-income households. By leveraging these programs, retailers not only enhance customer retention but also drive higher basket penetration, contributing to overall market growth.

The United Arab Emirates, positioned as a global trade hub, is the fastest-growing player, eyeing a 7.18% CAGR through 2031. The United Arab Emirates re-exports imported canned fish to its neighbors, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq, capitalizing on its strategic location and efficient logistics infrastructure. At Dubai International Airport, duty-free outlets cater to transit passengers with premium salmon cans, expanding the country's market reach and tapping into high-spending international travelers. As dual-income households seek convenient, shelf-stable meals to accommodate their busy schedules, domestic per-capita consumption rises. This shift reflects changing consumer preferences driven by urbanization and longer working hours. Furthermore, with government investments in desalination and vertical aquaculture, the United Arab Emirates signals its ambition for partial import substitution, all while maintaining robust re-export volumes. These initiatives align with the country's broader strategy to enhance food security and reduce dependency on external suppliers.

South Africa, with its top-tier cold chains and experienced fishing fleet, adeptly balances a strong domestic market with exports to its landlocked neighbors. The country's advanced infrastructure and expertise in fisheries enable it to meet both local and regional demand efficiently. In Nigeria, while the demand is buoyed by a sizable population and swift urban migration, challenges like foreign-exchange volatility and port congestion occasionally hinder import volumes. These issues highlight the need for improved trade policies and infrastructure development to sustain growth. Meanwhile, emerging markets like Kenya, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, though starting from a modest base, are witnessing double-digit volume growth. This surge is fueled by World Bank-backed cold-store projects and the expansion of supermarket chains into secondary cities, which improve access to canned fish products and stimulate local economies. Although political instability in Sudan and Ethiopia presents localized challenges, it hasn't significantly impacted the overall regional demand, thanks to a diversified country exposure. This diversification mitigates risks and ensures steady growth across the region.