Russia increases fish exports to China 15% to 800,000 tonnes in Jan-July - Fish Union

MOSCOW. Aug 27 (Interfax) - Russia exported 800,000 tonnes of fish and seafood to China in January-July 2026, a 15% increase year-on-year, while export revenue increased 1.5-fold to over $2.6 billion, the Russian Fish Union reported based on an analysis of data from the Chinese General Customs Administration.

Frozen pollock exports grew 25% to 432,000 tonnes and 1.7-fold in value terms to $760 million. "The high prices for pollock (gutted and headless) on the world market is incentivizing producers to prioritize its production and increasing exports," the statement reads.

Exports of frozen pollock fillets increased 10% to 4,000 tonnes and 1.4-fold in value terms to $12 million. "Exports have been increasing as production on vessels at sea remained high in January-July 2026, at around 70,000 tonnes, which is in line with the same period of last year," the union said.

Surimi exports amounted to around 14,000 tonnes for more than $36 million. The union did not give a comparison with 2025.

Frozen cod exports rose 25% to 57,000 tonnes and 1.8-fold in value terms to $453 million. The increase in cod prices on the global market was linked partly to a decision by the Joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission (JRNFC) to reduce the mutually acceptable Atlantic cod catch in the Barents Sea for 2026 by 16% to 347,000 tonnes, with Russia's share at 133,000 tonnes.

Exports of frozen whole herring also grew, by 25% to 133,000 tonnes and 30% to $103 million. The union said that this was because the Pacific herring catch had increased 41% to 457,000 tonnes in January-July.

The union also said that live crab exports had grown 15% to 25,000 tonnes and 25% to $709 million in 7M. Frozen crab exports rose 1.4-fold to 4,000 tonnes and doubled in value terms to $84 million. Crab exports increased as the volume of crab caught in 7M 2026 grew 5% year-on-year to 57,000 tonnes, the statement says.