Russia boosts revenue from fish exports to Brazil 15-fold to $3.5 mln in 9M - fisheries association

MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax) - Russia increased fish exports to Brazil 15-fold year-on-year to $3.54 million and tripled the weight of these exports to 580 tonnes in the first nine months of this year, compared with shipments weighing 193.2 tonnes for $233,500 a year previously, the Russian Fishery Shipowners Association (FSA) said based on an analysis of Brazilian customs statistics.

"This change can largely be attributed to last year's low base, and it was primarily due to the launch of Russian cod exports to Brazil, of which there were none in the same period of 2025," the association said.

Pollock and cod accounted for most of the exports, with a combined weight of 552.3 tonnes for $3.34 million, which was 95% of the total weight of Russia's exports to Brazil and 94% of their value.

The FSA said that Russian exporters were continuing to increase their presence on the Brazilian market, growing exports of clipfish, or salted dried cod strips, Russia's key export product to Brazil in value terms. In 9M, 166.2 tonnes was shipped for $2.63 million, making up 74% of Russia's total fish exports to Brazil.

Clipfish exports are also accelerating, with shipments doubling in September in comparison with any of the previous months, at 48.3 tonnes for $851,000. Russia increased its share of Brazil's clipfish imports to 15.2% from 12.4% the previous month. Norway is still the main supplier, but its share decreased to 76.8% from 92.5% in September 2025, while it kept its prices at a higher level than the equivalent Russian produce, at $17.3 per kilogram versus Russia's $15.8.

Frozen cod exports from Russia to Brazil totaled 15.1 tonnes for $136,600. Exports of cod products amounted to 181.3 tonnes for $2.77 million in total.

The FSA said that pollock once again accounted for most of Russian fish exports to Brazil, with a 64% share. These exports almost doubled year-on-year, from 193.2 tonnes to 371 tonnes, and increased 2.4-fold in value terms from $233,500 to $569,000. The average price increased 27% to $1.53 per kilogram.

All of the frozen pollock which Brazil imported in 9M 2026 was from Russia, while China supplied 18% of the volume the previous year.

The association also said that Russia continued to occupy a small share of the Brazilian market in weight terms, but this has still grown to 0.25% from 0.09% last year.

"Among BRICS countries, the trend in Russian fish exports is still determined by China, but Brazil still remains a promising area with a growing market. At the same time, there is still the limiting factor of import duties - our exporters are having to compete from produce from MERCOSUR countries, which have duty-free access to the Brazilian market," the FSA said.