Driven By Exports Of Mackerel And Saury From China, Russia's Seafood Imports From China Increased By 11% in The First Quarter.

Russia's seafood imports from China continued to grow in the first quarter of this year, with frozen mackerel and saury being the main drivers.

Data from the Russian Fisheries Union (RFU) shows that from January to March this year, Russia's seafood imports from China reached $99 million, an increase of 11% year-on-year; the import volume reached 26,900 tons, an increase of 20% year-on-year.

Among them, frozen Pacific mackerel saw the most significant growth.

In the first quarter of this year, Russia imported approximately 25,000 tons of frozen Pacific mackerel from China, an increase of 9% year-on-year; the import value reached $17 million, a significant increase of 110% year-on-year. Russian authorities stated that rising international mackerel prices were a major reason why the increase in import value far exceeded the increase in volume.

Meanwhile, a decrease in the supply of frozen Atlantic mackerel from the Faroe Islands also prompted Russia to increase its purchases from China. Data shows that by 2025, the Faroe Islands' frozen Atlantic mackerel exports to Russia will fall to 34,000 tons, a decrease of 25% year-on-year.

Pacific saury imports also saw rapid growth.

In the first quarter of this year, Russia imported 5,000 tons of frozen Pacific saury from China, a 50% increase year-on-year; the import value reached US$10 million, a 40% increase year-on-year.

In contrast, frozen trout imports performed weaker.

Russia imported approximately 2,000 tons of frozen trout from China in the first quarter, roughly the same as the same period last year, but the import value increased by 5% to US$15 million. Russian sources pointed out that increased imports of frozen trout from Turkey created competition for Chinese products.

By 2025, Russia's seafood imports from China are projected to reach US$410 million, a 5% increase year-on-year; the total import volume is expected to reach 96,000 tons, a 9% increase year-on-year.

The Russian market has been continuously expanding its purchases of Asian seafood in the past two years. Following the strengthening of trade restrictions between Europe and the United States, Russia's import structure has clearly shifted towards the Chinese and Asian markets, with increases in imports of frozen mackerel, Pacific saury, pollock products, and processed fish products.

Chinese companies have now become one of the important suppliers of frozen seafood to Russia, covering multiple categories including small deep-sea fish, processed products, and frozen retail products.