Russia's Seafood Exports See Dramatic Shifts in 2025: Kamchatka Crab Drops, China's Demand Surges
Russia's seafood exports have seen significant shifts in the first eight months of 2025. Notably, Kamchatka crab supplies to Russia decreased by 35% in volume and 15% in value, reaching 2,000 tonnes for $64 million. Meanwhile, Japan remained a steadfast buyer, with pollock caviar supplies holding steady at around 21,000 tonnes and $110 million.
Live crab supplies to China surged by 20% in weight, totaling 21,000 tonnes. Surimi exports from pollock also witnessed a 50% increase in weight and a 75% rise in value, reaching 16,000 tonnes and $41 million respectively. Frozen pollock exports experienced a tenfold increase in volume and a fourteenfold boost in value, reaching 1,200 tonnes and $2 million.
Frozen king crab exports saw a 20% decrease in volume but a 5% increase in value, amounting to 7,000 tonnes for $123 million. Pollock fillet supplies to Japan jumped by 50% in weight and 55% in value, reaching 3,500 tonnes and $13 million. Notably, frozen pink salmon exports doubled in weight and nearly tripled in value, reaching 11,000 tonnes for $85 million.
Japan continues to be the leading buyer of Russian pollock caviar, accounting for 56% of the total in 2024. Despite some fluctuations, Russia's seafood exports to Japan have shown resilience, with several products experiencing significant growth. However, data on exports to other major buyers remains unclear for the first eight months of 2025.
