| Product Code: ETC6189093 | Publication Date: Sep 2024 | Updated Date: Jan 2026 | Product Type: Market Research Report | |
| Publisher: 6Wresearch | Author: Sachin Kumar Rai | No. of Pages: 75 | No. of Figures: 35 | No. of Tables: 20 |
Australia`s import trend for the prawn market experienced a significant decline from 2023 to 2024, with a growth rate of -25.29%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the period 2020-2024 was -7.29%. This negative momentum can be attributed to shifting consumer preferences or changes in global trade dynamics impacting import volumes.

The Australia Prawn Market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing consumption of seafood and the growing popularity of prawns as a versatile and healthy food option. Prawns are a staple in Australian cuisine, with demand driven by both domestic consumption and export opportunities. The market benefits from a growing awareness of the nutritional benefits of seafood, particularly in terms of its high protein and low-fat content. The rise of aquaculture, along with improved farming practices and sustainable harvesting methods, is helping to meet the growing demand for prawns. Additionally, with the increasing popularity of ready-to-eat and frozen prawn products, the market is becoming more accessible to a broader range of consumers. As Australia remains a key player in the global seafood trade, the prawn market is expected to continue expanding.
The Australia Prawn Market continues to thrive, underpinned by both strong domestic consumption and export potential. Australian prawns are prized for their quality, and consumers are showing a growing preference for sustainably farmed or wild-caught varieties. Seasonal demand spikes around holidays like Christmas and Easter contribute to significant revenue bursts. The rise in seafood-centric dining and health-conscious eating is also increasing prawn consumption. Aquaculture technologies and improved cold chain logistics are helping meet demand year-round. Export markets in Asia and the Middle East are also fueling growth, especially for premium prawn categories.
The Australia prawn market faces challenges related to supply chain sustainability, environmental regulations, and international competition. Prawn farming, particularly in the context of aquaculture, is under pressure to meet increasing demand while ensuring that production methods are environmentally sustainable. Overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution are significant concerns for both wild-caught and farmed prawns, leading to regulatory changes and increased scrutiny from environmental groups. This drives up operational costs as farmers must implement more sustainable practices and technologies, such as using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) or adhering to sustainable sourcing standards. Additionally, Australia faces strong competition from international prawn producers, particularly from Southeast Asia and South America, where prawns can be produced at lower costs. This affects the pricing and profitability of Australian prawn producers, who may struggle to compete on a global scale. The industry also faces challenges in terms of labor shortages, as specialized workers are required to maintain the farms and processing facilities, further increasing costs. Lastly, changing consumer preferences for ethically sourced, sustainable products place pressure on the market to meet the demand for eco-friendly prawn farming.
The Australian prawn market is seeing steady growth, driven by both domestic demand and international exports. Australias prawn farming industry benefits from its clean, sustainable farming practices and high-quality products. Investment opportunities in this market include expanding aquaculture production, improving farm-to-market logistics, and exploring new distribution channels for export. As consumer demand for sustainably sourced seafood rises, the prawn market presents significant growth potential, especially in international markets.
The Australian prawn industry is heavily regulated to ensure sustainability, biosecurity, and export competitiveness. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) oversees commercial wild-catch operations, enforcing quotas, seasonal closures, and gear restrictions to preserve marine biodiversity. Prawn farming is governed by state-level aquaculture policies and biosecurity protocols managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. After the 2016 white spot disease outbreak, strict biosecurity import rules were imposed to prevent disease entry and spread. The government also supports the industry with R&D funding, particularly for disease-resistant breeding and sustainable farming practices. Export assistance is provided under various trade agreements and through certifications like HACCP and sustainability labels. These policies aim to balance economic growth in prawn production with long-term environmental protection and food safety.
1 Executive Summary |
2 Introduction |
2.1 Key Highlights of the Report |
2.2 Report Description |
2.3 Market Scope & Segmentation |
2.4 Research Methodology |
2.5 Assumptions |
3 Australia Prawn Market Overview |
3.1 Australia Country Macro Economic Indicators |
3.2 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, 2021 & 2031F |
3.3 Australia Prawn Market - Industry Life Cycle |
3.4 Australia Prawn Market - Porter's Five Forces |
3.5 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Species, 2021 & 2031F |
3.6 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Prawn Size, 2021 & 2031F |
4 Australia Prawn Market Dynamics |
4.1 Impact Analysis |
4.2 Market Drivers |
4.2.1 Increasing consumer demand for seafood and healthy protein sources |
4.2.2 Growing popularity of prawns as a versatile ingredient in various cuisines |
4.2.3 Rise in disposable income leading to higher spending on premium seafood products |
4.3 Market Restraints |
4.3.1 Environmental concerns and sustainability issues related to prawn farming practices |
4.3.2 Competition from imported prawns impacting local market growth |
5 Australia Prawn Market Trends |
6 Australia Prawn Market, By Types |
6.1 Australia Prawn Market, By Species |
6.1.1 Overview and Analysis |
6.1.2 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By Species, 2021- 2031F |
6.1.3 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By Penaeus Vannamei, 2021- 2031F |
6.1.4 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By Penaeus Monodon, 2021- 2031F |
6.1.5 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By Macrobrachium Rosenbergii, 2021- 2031F |
6.1.6 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By Others, 2021- 2031F |
6.2 Australia Prawn Market, By Prawn Size |
6.2.1 Overview and Analysis |
6.2.2 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By <21, 2021- 2031F |
6.2.3 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By 21-25, 2021- 2031F |
6.2.4 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By 26-30, 2021- 2031F |
6.2.5 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By 31-40, 2021- 2031F |
6.2.6 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By 41-50, 2021- 2031F |
6.2.7 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By 51-60, 2021- 2031F |
6.2.8 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By >70, 2021- 2031F |
6.2.9 Australia Prawn Market Revenues & Volume, By >70, 2021- 2031F |
7 Australia Prawn Market Import-Export Trade Statistics |
7.1 Australia Prawn Market Export to Major Countries |
7.2 Australia Prawn Market Imports from Major Countries |
8 Australia Prawn Market Key Performance Indicators |
8.1 Average selling price of prawns in Australia |
8.2 Number of prawn farming certifications obtained in the country |
8.3 Growth rate of domestic prawn production |
8.4 Percentage of consumers willing to pay a premium for sustainably sourced prawns |
8.5 Adoption rate of technological advancements in prawn farming industry |
9 Australia Prawn Market - Opportunity Assessment |
9.1 Australia Prawn Market Opportunity Assessment, By Species, 2021 & 2031F |
9.2 Australia Prawn Market Opportunity Assessment, By Prawn Size, 2021 & 2031F |
10 Australia Prawn Market - Competitive Landscape |
10.1 Australia Prawn Market Revenue Share, By Companies, 2024 |
10.2 Australia Prawn Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Operating and Technical Parameters |
11 Company Profiles |
12 Recommendations |
13 Disclaimer |
Export potential enables firms to identify high-growth global markets with greater confidence by combining advanced trade intelligence with a structured quantitative methodology. The framework analyzes emerging demand trends and country-level import patterns while integrating macroeconomic and trade datasets such as GDP and population forecasts, bilateral import–export flows, tariff structures, elasticity differentials between developed and developing economies, geographic distance, and import demand projections. Using weighted trade values from 2020–2024 as the base period to project country-to-country export potential for 2030, these inputs are operationalized through calculated drivers such as gravity model parameters, tariff impact factors, and projected GDP per-capita growth. Through an analysis of hidden potentials, demand hotspots, and market conditions that are most favorable to success, this method enables firms to focus on target countries, maximize returns, and global expansion with data, backed by accuracy.
By factoring in the projected importer demand gap that is currently unmet and could be potential opportunity, it identifies the potential for the Exporter (Country) among 190 countries, against the general trade analysis, which identifies the biggest importer or exporter.
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