What is the price of lobster in South Africa?

As of January 2025, lobster in South Africa is US$ 37.13 per kg (721 ZAR), sourced from UN Comtrade (unit value).

What is South Africa's world rank in lobster exports?

South Africa ranks #6 among 55 lobster exporters.

Is South Africa a net exporter or importer of lobster?

South Africa is a net exporter of lobster.

What is the latest export price for South African lobster?

The latest export unit value for South African lobster is US$37.129 per kg.

What was the year-on-year change in South Africa's lobster export value?

South Africa's lobster export value increased by 19.4% year-on-year.

Lobster Price in South Africa - June 2026 Market Prices (Updated Monthly)

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Current Lobster Prices in South Africa
Lobster Price History & Trend
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Lobster Prices in South Africa

US$ 37.13 / kg

721 ZAR / kg

MoM ▼ 9.1%

Checked: Jun 9, 2026

Price as of: January 2025

Source: UN Comtrade (unit value)

Variety	Market level	Price (US$/kg)	Local (ZAR)	MoM	YoY	Source
-	Export (unit value)	37.13	721	▼ 9.1%	n/a	UN Comtrade (unit value)

As of June 2026, the lobster price in South Africa available is US$ 37.13 per kg (721 ZAR).

South Africa exported lobsters worth US$19,237,403 in 2024, ranking #6 among 55 global exporters and accounting for 2.5% of global exports. Export value increased by 19.4% year-on-year, and the country is a net exporter of lobster. The latest export unit value is US$37.129 per kg.

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Lobster Price History & Trend

We are building a dedicated lobster price series for South Africa history. The trend line shown is the closest commodity benchmark, for reference only.

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Production, Exports, Imports & HS Codes - lobster in South Africa

Exports UN Comtrade · 2024

In 2024, South Africa exported $19.2M of lobster▲ 19.4% YoY. That ranks #6 worldwide (2.5% of global exports).

$19.2M

Export value

#6 / 55

World rank

2.5%

Global share

Export value by year (US$)

Export volume by year

Top lobster exporters worldwide UN Comtrade · 2024

#1 Australia $278M · 36.1%
#2 New Zealand $210.3M · 27.3%
#3 Indonesia $85.1M · 11.1%
#4 Mexico $58.3M · 7.6%
#5 US $32.9M · 4.3%

Annual export data South Africa · UN Comtrade

Year	Export value (US$)	Volume	Avg price/kg
2024	$19.2M	-	-
2023	$16.1M	394.5 t	$40.83
2022	$20.6M	523 t	$39.32
2021	$31.2M	806.5 t	$38.74
2020	$24.2M	789.5 t	$30.62

HS Code

lobster is traded under Harmonized System code 0306.31. Trade figures above are compiled for this HS heading.

Sources: trade & HS - UN Comtrade. Values are official reported figures.

South Africa lobster - Production, Exports, Imports, Seasons and HS Codes

In 2019 South Africa sold 241,444 tonnes of lobster. Through 2019 alone, the market for South Africa lobster (seafood category) has reduced, flactuating by -1.117 percent compared to the year 2018. Between 2017 and 2019, lobster's exports decreased by -5.08 percent earning the country US$55.27m for the year 2019. South Africa's lobster exports are classified as:

Norway lobsters "Nephrops norvegicus", even smoked, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, dried, salted or in brine, incl. lobsters in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030625)
Lobsters "Homarus spp.", whether in shell or not, dried, salted, smoked or in brine, incl. lobsters in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030692)
Lobster, prepared or preserved (excluding smoked) (HS code 160530)
Lobsters "Homarus spp.", whether in shell or not, live, fresh or chilled (HS code 030632)
Frozen Norway lobsters "Nephrops norvegicus", even smoked, whether in shell or not, incl. lobsters in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030615)
Rock lobster and other sea crawfish "Palinurus spp., Panulirus spp. and Jasus spp.", whether in shell or not, dried, salted, smoked or in brine, incl. in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030691)
Norway lobsters "Nephrops norvegicus", whether in shell or not, live, fresh or chilled (HS code 030634)
Frozen lobsters "Homarus spp.", even smoked, whether in shell or not, incl. lobsters in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030612)
Rock lobster and other sea crawfish "Palinurus spp., Panulirus spp. and Jasus spp.", whether in shell or not, live, fresh or chilled (HS code 030631)
Rock lobster and other sea crawfish "Palinurus spp., Panulirus spp. and Jasus spp.", even smoked, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, dried, salted or in brine, incl. in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030621)
Norway lobsters "Nephrops norvegicus", whether in shell or not, dried, salted, smoked or in brine, incl. lobsters in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030694)
Lobsters "Homarus spp.", even smoked, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, dried, salted or in brine, incl. lobsters in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030622)
Frozen rock lobster and other sea crawfish "Palinurus spp.", "Panulirus spp." and "Jasus spp.", even smoked, whether in shell or not, incl. rock lobster and other sea crawfish in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water (HS code 030611)
Lobster (HS code 0306Xd)

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South Africa lobster export values

In 2019, South Africa sold lobster with a value of 55.27m USD, a drop of -2.23% from 2018's total lobster export of 56.53m USD. The annual reduction in value of South Africa lobster between 2017 to 2018 was -8.969%.

The annual variation in the amount of South Africa's lobster exports between 2017 and 2019 was -5.08 pc compared to a variation of -1.117% in the period between 2018 and 2019.

South Africa's share of the world's total lobster's exports in 2019 was less than 1%. The country holds position 39 in world exports of lobster.

Export markets for South Africa lobster ( in '000$ )

Import/Export Trends

South Africa is a net importer of lobster. The annual growth of South Africa lobster in value between 2015 to 2019 was -7%, per annum, while annual growth in quantity for the same period was -17%, per annum.

South Africa ordered 159 tonnes of lobster in 2019.

Lobster Prices Across Africa

Compare the latest lobster prices in other Africa countries:

Morocco$37.06/kg Kenya$6.83/kg Senegal$13.60/kg Mauritania$11.35/kg Madagascar$18.51/kg Tunisia$42.64/kg Mozambique$5.18/kg Egypt$44.18/kg Tanzania$16.00/kg

Other Seafood Prices in South Africa

Latest prices for other seafood in South Africa:

Caviar$9.71/kg Octopus$5.81/kg Snails$5.18/kg Cuttlefish & Squid$7.22/kg Shrimps & Prawns$6.53/kg Blue Mussel$3.07/kg Jellyfish$3.42/kg Sea Cucumber$5.71/kg Oysters$8.11/kg Scallops$3.07/kg

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