1 | ANALYSIS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

CURRENT SITUATION: National Veterinary Service Laboratories confirmed Tilapia Lake Virus 

(TiLV) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on a farm in Idaho in March 2019. This was the first 

detection of TiLV in the United States. The infected premise was placed under quarantine on

Monday, April 8, 2019 and an epidemiological investigation began on April11, 2019. Prior to the 

start of the investigation, the owner voluntarily depopulated fingerlings and potentially exposed 

species, and the tanks were cleaned and disinfected. To verify that the existing tilapia 

population on the premises was not infected with TiLV, testing was performed resulting in no 

additional detections for TiLV. The quarantine was released on May 2. Movement traces from 

the index premise resulted in two additional premises in Colorado and Wyoming which 

confirmed positive for TiLV. These premises were placed under hold movement restrictions. 

Premises plans were developed, agreed upon, and signed by state, federal, and public/private 

entities. Once the premise plans were completed, meeting all regulatory, sample testing, and 

biosecurity requirements, the hold movement was released on June 18, 2019 (Wyoming) and 

July 25, 2019 (Colorado).

As a result of these detections, USDA APHIS, with support from industry, imposed new import 

requirements for all live tilapia, fertilized eggs, and gametes of TiLV-susceptible species as of 

December 12, 2019. Consignments are required to be accompanied by a USDA APHIS Import 

Permit, a veterinary export health certificate issued in the country of origin, and undergo 

veterinary inspection at a Designated U.S. Port of Entry upon arrival. More information can be 

found on the USDA APHIS Live Fish Import website, including Federal Order DA-2019-01.

PURPOSE: Summarize import and export patterns of tilapia in the U.S. for the last 15 years 

DATA SOURCE: USITC (United States International Trade Commission) Dataweb

Global production of tilapia is estimated at 6.4 million metric tons (MMT). Top producers of 

tilapia are: China (1.78 MMT), Indonesia (1.12 MMT), and Egypt (0.88 MT). Bangladesh, 

Vietnam, and the Philippines are other leading producers (Jansen and Mohan, 2017). It is 

difficult to estimate the imported volume of tilapia into the United States. The Harmonized Tariff 

Schedule (HTS) does not have a distinct commodity classification for live tilapia. Live tilapia 

falls within HTS code 030199 - “Other Live Fish”, which also includes big head carp, tench, and 

csheatfish. Presumably, this category includes fry and fingerlings, which are most susceptible 

to infection by TiLV. The specificity of the HTS category capturing import/export of milt and 

fertilized eggs from tilapia is less than the category for live tilapia; the closest HTS code is 

051191 - “other fish” fertilized eggs and milt as well as other products of fish, crustaceans, etc., 

and dead animals of chapter 3. 

Using available information (Tilapia Aquaculture Association of South Africa, 2018; OIE, 2018), 

we determined countries known to be affected with TiLV (Table 1). While not recognized by the 

World organisation for Animal Health (OIE), recent publications indicate that Tanzania and 

Uganda are affected, as the virus was sequenced from tilapia in Lake Victoria (Jansen et al.; 

Mugimba et al., 2018). A list of confirmed detections are available from the Tilapia Aquaculture 

Association of South Africa, and is used to supplement the list of affected countries. We also 

summarize countries at risk by tilapia lake virus (FAO, 2017), as the list may prove useful as 

TiLV spreads globally. For this analysis, we filtered the import records to the list of affected 

countries presented in Table 1. 

ANALYSIS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS

OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT January 2020
2 | ANALYSIS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

Table 1. List of countries known or believed to be at risk of tilapia production being infected by tilapia lake virus (TiLV). 

Status Countries 

Affected Columbia , Ecuador, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, 

Mozambique, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda 

Believed to be 

“At Risk” 

Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burundi, Canada, China, Congo, 

El- Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Myanmar, 

Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, 

South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 

Ukraine, United Arab Emirate, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, and 

Zambia 

IMPORTS

While it is unknown what proportion of HTS 030199 imports are tilapia, the major exporters to 

the U.S. from TiLV-affected countries are Ecuador, Israel, Taiwan, and Thailand (Figure 1). 

 
3 | ANALYS IS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

Figure 1. Annual import of “other fish” from HTS category 030199, filtered by countries affected by tilapia lake virus. 

We evaluated the import volume from TiLV-affected countries relative to the total import volume 

for 2018 (Table 2) and found that each TiLV-affected country contributed less than 0.5% of the 

total import volume. Collectively, imports from all affected countries comprised 0.84% of the total 

import volume from 2018. 

Table 2. Summary of tilapia import volumes and percent of total volume from 2018, originating from TiLV-affected 

countries listed in Table 1. Sorted in descending order by volume. 

Country Import Volume (kg) Percent of Total Import Volume 

Ecuador 24,379 0.42% 

Israel 19,872 0.34% 

Taiwan 3,115 0.05% 

Thailand 1,948 0.03% 

Kenya 175 0.00% 

USDA|APHIS|VS|RIRA| 2
4 | ANALYSIS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

Figure 2. Annual import of fertilized eggs and milt from fish or crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 

(HTS category 0511910010), filtered by countries affected by tilapia lake virus. 

In Figure 2, we present the import of fertilized eggs and milt (i.e. seminal fluid) from all fish or 

crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates (HTS code 0511910010, which is inclusive 

of tilapia). The majority of egg/milt imports from TiLV-affected countries to the U.S. originated 

from Mexico in recent years, and overall shows that’s a declining trend. 
5 | ANALYS IS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

Figure 3. Annual export of “other live fish” (HTS code 030199) by export value in U.S. dollars (USD). Figure depicts 

countries importing greater than $250,000 of tilapia and other live fish from the United States. 
6 | ANALYSIS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

EXPORTS 

Export data for HTS codes 030199 and 051191 are reported in terms of value (U.S. dollars), 

because export volume in kilograms is not available from the USITC. In terms of export of 

“other live fish” to countries outside the U.S., we primarily export tilapia and other fish to 

Canada (Figure 3). However, another major destination for export of “other fish” in previous 

years is South Korea. In 2018, we exported almost $16 million USD worth of tilapia and other 

fish to Canada. All other countries accounted for less than 1% of U.S. exports each (Table 3). 

Table 3. Summary of tilapia and other fish (HTS code 030199) exported to other countries in 2018, reported in value 

of export (USD). Sorted in descending order by volume. 

Country Export Value (US dollars) 

Percent of 2018 

Total Export 

Canada $15,914,828 94.11% 

Netherlands $149,488 0.88% 

United Arab Emirates $136,076 0.80% 

China $119,822 0.71% 

United Kingdom $114,273 0.68% 

Trinidad and Tobago $112,256 0.66% 

Taiwan $ 81,014 0.48% 

Mexico $ 59,843 0.35% 

Korea, South $ 58,359 0.35% 

Hong Kong $ 44,586 0.26% 

Sint Maarten $ 42,361 0.25% 

Japan $ 22,737 0.13% 

Thailand $ 14,099 0.08% 

Brazil $ 8,500 0.05% 

Indonesia $ 6,776 0.04% 

Australia $ 5,552 0.03% 

France $ 5,231 0.03% 

Colombia $ 5,100 0.03% 

Germany $ 5,000 0.03% 

Singapore $ 4,233 0.03% 

The actual values over the past 10 years for the trade of live fish (HTS 030199) for countries 

with export markets identified that could be negatively affected (closed or restricted based on 

negotiated export protocols) by a detection of Title in the U.S. are presented in Table 4. 

Canada is the largest market with average annual trade value of $17 million and trade 

occurring annually. Peru represents the second highest average, valued at $152 thousand; 

however, trade occurred only in 2014. Mexico is the third highest, with the average annual 

trade value of $31 thousand, with trade occurring in all but two years. The remaining three 

countries purchased U.S. exports in two of the ten years and the exports were valued less than 

$10 thousand. 
7 | ANALYS IS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

Table 4. Summary of “other live fish” (HTS code 030199) U.S. exports to countries with TiLV trade restrictions, reported 

in value of export (USD) for 2008-2018, and the average for years with trade. 

Canada Costa Rica El Salvador Honduras Mexico Peru 

2008 19,670,716 3,464 . . 65,261 . 

2009 19,642,373 . . . 19,450 . 

2010 18,605,885 . 10,232 . . . 

2011 17,548,607 . 8,395 . 4,500 . 

2012 18,009,113 . . . . . 

2013 16,912,201 . . . 5,930 . 

2014 15,611,153 . . 6,700 60,000 152,450 

2015 15,244,755 . . 5,250 . . 

2016 15,670,147 . . . 20,300 . 

2017 16,765,945 4,363 . . 14,143 . 

2018 15,914,828 . . . 59,843 . 

Average 17,235,975 3,914 9,314 5,975 31,178 152,450 

The USITC export data does not report the 10-digit HTS code (0511910010) that was used in 

the import analysis. In the following section, we analyze the export of products of fish or 

crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates; dead animals of chapter 3 (HTS code 

051191, which includes fertilized eggs and milt). The top five countries which receive from the 

U.S. fertilized eggs/milt and other aquatic products include Ecuador, India, Canada, Vietnam, 

and Indonesia (Table 5). Overall, the trend for export of these products to other countries (Figure 

4) has been increasing in volume and diversity of partners. However, it is unknown what portion 

of these exports are fish eggs/milt. 

Table 5. Summary of tilapia and other fish eggs/milt exported to other countries in 2018, reported in value of export 

(USD). Limited to the top 13 countries of export (>2% of total export value) and sorted in descending order by volume. 

Country Export Value (US dollars) 

Percent of 2018 

Total Export 

Ecuador $24,575,541 17.67%

India $23,409,833 16.83%

Canada $15,528,737 11.16%

Vietnam $14,844,332 10.67%

Indonesia $9,678,292 6.96%

Japan $7,855,443 5.65%

Belgium $6,384,728 4.59%

Turkey $5,106,876 3.67%

Mexico $3,050,078 2.19%

Peru $3,034,768 2.18%

Netherlands $2,935,992 2.11%

South Korea $2,898,834 2.08%

Saudi Arabia $2,897,073 2.08%
8 | ANALYSIS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

Figure 4. Annual export of products of fish or crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates; dead animals of 

chapter 3 (HTS code 051191) by export value in U.S. dollars (USD), which is inclusive of fertilized eggs/milt. Figure 

depicts countries importing greater than $250,000 of aquatic products from the United States. 

The actual export values over the past 10 years for the trade of “other fish” fertilized eggs and milt 

as well as other products of fish, crustaceans, etc., and dead animals (HTS code 051191) for 

countries with markets identified that could be negatively affected (closed or restricted based on 

negotiated export protocols) by a detection of TiLV in the U.S. are presented in Table 6. Canada 

is the largest market with average annual trade value of $12 million. Mexico is the second highest 

with average annual trade value of $4 million. Peru is the third highest with the average annual 

trade value of $2 million. The remaining countries annual export values are: Honduras with 1.2 

million, Costa Rica with 120 thousand, and El Salvador with 28 thousand; however, El Salvador 

only received U.S. exports in 2015. 
9 | ANALYS IS OF U.S. IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF LIVE TILAPIA AND EGGS/MILT

Table 6. Summary of U.S. exports of products of fish or crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates; dead 

animals (HTS code 051191) to countries with TiLV trade restrictions, reported in value of export (USD) for 20082018 

and the average for years with trade. 

Canada Costa Rica El Salvador Honduras Mexico Peru 

2008 10,165,010 35,889 . 348,531 572,672 839,484 

2009 12,299,702 52,379 . 423,388 1,911,863 1,098,290 

2010 8,451,547 45,720 . 385,539 2,179,610 1,423,143 

2011 13,864,306 20,790 . 330,647 2,563,462 455,388 

2012 13,568,378 28,184 . 1,147,352 3,868,376 7,438 

2013 12,854,223 166,990 . 1,144,402 5,158,607 2,373,097 

2014 11,680,777 201,466 . 1,511,504 5,597,767 2,644,926 

2015 9,965,258 155,435 28,000 2,059,335 7,422,951 2,735,435 

2016 13,301,323 129,416 . 1,920,633 5,120,935 2,934,037 

2017 15,202,713 244,681 . 1,588,866 3,962,911 2,870,595 

2018 15,528,737 243,504 . 2,157,224 3,050,078 3,034,768 

Average 12,443,816 120,405 28,000 1,183,402 3,764,476 1,856,055 

CITATIONS

FAO, 2017. Urgent update on possible worldwide spread of tilapia lake virus (TiLV). 

Jansen, M.D., Dong, H.T., Mohan, C.V., Tilapia lake virus: a threat to the global tilapia industry? 

Reviews in Aquaculture 11: 725-739, doi:10.1111/raq.12254.

Jansen, M.D., Mohan, C.V., 2017. Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV): Literature Review, 

https://enaca.org/?id=914&title=tilapia-lake-virus-tilv-literature-review, Accessed April 

10, 2019. 

Mugimba, K.K., Chengula, A.A., Wamala, S., Mwega, E.D., Kasanga, C.J., Byarugaba, D.K., 

Mdegela, R.H., Tal, S., Bornstein, B., Dishon, A., Mutoloki, S., David, L., Evensen, Ø., 

Munang'andu, H.M., 2018. Detection of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) infection by PCR in 

farmed and wild Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Lake Victoria. Journal of Fish 

Diseases 41, 1181-1189. 

OIE, 2018. Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) - A Novel Orthomyxo-like Virus. OIE Technical Disease 

Card, https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/ 

pdf/Aquatic_Commission/A_TiLV_disease_card.pdf, Accessed April 10, 2019.

Tilapia Aquaculture Association of South Africa, 2018. Confirmed TiLV outbreaks as of August 

2018, https://www.thetilapiasite.co.za/article-44-confirmed-tilv-outbreaks-as-of-august2018.html, Accessed April 10, 2019.