Russia increases revenue from fish, seafood exports to Japan 20% in Jan to $72.9 mln - Fish Union

MOSCOW. March 6 (Interfax) - Russia exported fish and seafood to Japan worth $72.9 million in January 2026, up 20% from a year earlier, but supplies decreased 3% in physical terms to 7,500 tonnes, the Fish Union said following an analysis of Japanese customs statistics data.

Supplies of surimi increased 1% to 1,400 tonnes while their value increased 14% to $3.3 million. The slight increase in the physical indicator may be associated with a 9% reduction in the production of pollock mince (including surimi) on vessels at sea in January 2026 to 13,300 tonnes, the union said.

Exports of pollock fillet increased 15% to 500 tonnes and 10% to $2 million. This dynamics may be explained in terms of 22% growth in the production of pollock fillet on vessels in January 2026 to 21,300 tonnes, it said.

Supplies of frozen pollock decreased 5% to 300 tonnes, but increased 20% in value terms to $0.6 million.

According to the statement, exports of frozen snow crab (opilio) decreased 5% to 400 tonnes, but the value increased 5% to $9 million. Supplies of king crab increased 1.5-fold to 300 tonnes and 45% to $11.4 million. "Russian crab catchers are increasing exports of king crab after a sharp reduction in supplies in 2025 of 35% to 2,800 tonnes and 20% to $89 million," the union said.

Exports of sockeye salmon, after a sharp increase of 35% to 18,000 tonnes and 55% to $132 million in 2025, shifted to a decline. In January, 1,700 tonnes worth $13 million were shipped. Both indicators are 15% lower than in January 2025.

Supplies of frozen squid, due to the low base effect, increased sevenfold to 200 tonnes worth $0.9 million. At the same time, the union's analysts said that the growth in exports is occurring amid both a decline in the squid catch in Russia in 2025 (-29% to 76,800 tonnes) and total supplies of these seafood products to Japan in January 2026 (-15% to 6,000 tonnes).