The Russian seafood market is navigating a paradoxical landscape. While the industry has posted record revenues and the country has secured its position as a major global player with $6.1 billion in exports, the domestic market is facing rising prices and supply constraints. As the industry continues to set ambitious growth targets, a significant portion of its high-value catch is being directed towards foreign markets, leaving Russian consumers with limited supply and higher prices.
Consumption Trends and Domestic Demand
Fish consumption in Russia remains robust, with per capita consumption holding steady at approximately 22.7 kg in 2024, a figure that is 18% higher than in 2022. However, consumption patterns vary regionally, with Sevastopol reporting 30.6 kg per capita compared to Crimea’s 16 kg.
Herring is the nation’s favorite fish, followed closely by pink salmon and pollock. Pollock consumption has notably surged, climbing to become the third most consumed fish in Russia. Domestic deliveries of pollock reached 252,000 tons in 2024, representing a 12% increase from the previous year.
A significant trend in recent years has been the rise of trout consumption, which has surged 70% over the past five years. In 2024, consumption reached 115,000 tons, driven by both domestic production (40,000 tons) and a sharp increase in imports from Turkey.
Export Performance: A Record-Breaking Year
The Russian fishing industry demonstrated remarkable strength in 2025. According to the Federal Agency for Fisheries, the sector exported over 2.1 million tons of fish products valued at $6.1 billion. The industry’s total revenue exceeded 1 trillion rubles, a 14% increase year-on-year.
The key export destinations in 2025 were:
- China
- Republic of Korea
- Netherlands
- Belarus
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Nigeria
This strong performance aligns with the government’s strategic goal to increase agricultural exports by 1.5 times by 2030 compared to 2021 levels. The focus is not solely on volume but on increasing revenue through higher value-added products.
Import Landscape: Belarus Takes the Lead
Russia’s seafood imports in 2025 reached a total of 680,000 tons valued at $3.1 billion, representing a 3% increase in volume and a 7% increase in value year-on-year.
The structure of Russia’s seafood imports reveals some interesting shifts:
- Belarus emerged as the largest supplier (16% by volume), despite a 3% decline in shipments
- China ranked second (14% by volume), with imports growing 14%
- Turkey took third place (11% by volume, 16% by value), with imports rising 13% in value
- Chile showed the strongest growth, with imports surging 28% in volume
Importantly, Belarus mainly supplies processed products like surimi (crab sticks), herring preserves, and capelin roe, while Turkey is the primary source for aquaculture species such as trout, sea bass, and sea bream.
Market Challenges: Price Inflation and Supply Constraints
Despite strong industry-wide revenue figures, the domestic seafood market faces significant headwinds. Restaurants and consumers are experiencing sharp price increases, with some seafood items rising by 10-40%.
The key drivers of these price increases include:
- Rising logistics costs: Transporting fish from the Far East to Western Russia remains expensive and logistically complex
- Export orientation: It is often more profitable for Russian producers, especially in the Far East, to sell to foreign markets like Japan than to supply the domestic market
- Limited cold storage infrastructure: Industry experts point to the lack of modern refrigerated warehousing as a key barrier to market growth
- Aquaculture volatility: Fluctuations in aquaculture production have contributed to supply constraints
Alexey Rudko, founder of the Kuril Coast fish store chain, notes that “there is a shortage of seafood in almost all positions in Russia, especially of domestic origin… a significant part of the catch is exported”.
Long-Term Outlook: Ambitious Expansion Plans
The Russian government is actively working to address these challenges. The “Investment Quotas” program aims to modernize the industry’s fleet and processing infrastructure, providing companies with long-term planning horizons of 20 years or more.
To boost domestic consumption, industry bodies like the Pollock Catchers Association have launched promotional campaigns to increase the visibility and appeal of local species. The “Far Eastern Pollock” campaign raised product recognition by 1.6 times and boosted consumer purchases by 21%.
The market is also seeing a shift in consumer preferences. There is growing interest in ready-made fish products and semi-finished items, with producers adapting by offering smaller portion sizes and value-added formats. At the same time, the long-term trend toward deep-processed products has stalled, with consumers showing renewed interest in raw frozen fish due to economic pressures.
Russia’s seafood market stands at a crossroads. While the industry is showing healthy growth and strong export performance, the domestic market is experiencing supply constraints and price volatility. As Russia continues to invest in its fishing fleet and processing capacity, the challenge will be to balance export ambitions with domestic supply stability and ensure that Russian consumers can access the high-quality products their country produces.
