Coverage Comparison
Two reports from TASS, the Russian state news agency, detail the growth in Russia's fish exports to China. The first, published on May 20, cites data from the Fish Union analytical center, which is based on China's General Administration of Customs. The second, from May 21, draws on a report by the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises (VARPE) and quotes its president, German Zverev. Both articles present the increase as a positive development for Russia, with the second emphasizing Russia's market position relative to Ecuador.
Key Claims
Export Surge in Early 2026
According to the Fish Union, Russian exports of fish and seafood to China in January-April 2026 increased year-on-year by 13% in volume and by 46% in value, reaching 550,000 metric tons worth more than $1.6 billion. The data, as reported by TASS, is based on calculations by the Fish Union analytical center using figures from China's General Administration of Customs.
Product-Specific Performance
The same report breaks down performance by product category. Frozen headed and gutted pollock exports rose by 15% in physical terms and by 55% in value terms, to 331,000 metric tons worth $566 million. Frozen pollock fillet exports increased by 35% in volume and by 70% in value, to 4,000 metric tons worth $11 million. Conversely, surimi supplies declined by 15% in volume and by 5% in value, to 12,000 metric tons worth $31 million.
Exports of frozen headed and gutted cod increased by 22% in physical terms and by 80% in value year-on-year, to 27,000 metric tons worth $214 million. Haddock supplies fell by 35% in volume and by 10% in value, to 5,000 metric tons worth $31 million.
Live crab exports from Russia to China increased by 20% in volume and by 30% in value, to 13,000 metric tons worth $428 million. Fish meal supplies declined by 25% in volume but rose by 5% in value, to 48,000 metric tons worth $97 million.
Russia's Position as Leading Supplier
The All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises reported that Russia became the largest supplier of fish products to China in 2025, with exports totaling $3.42 billion and a 14.4% share of China's fish imports. Ecuador, which had held the top spot for four consecutive years, fell to second place with a 13.7% share ($3.25 billion).
In the first quarter of 2026, Russia strengthened its position further, supplying fish products worth almost $1.1 billion. Russia's share of Chinese imports increased from 13.8% to 16.2%, while Ecuador's share decreased from 14.6% to 14%, according to the association's data.
Perspectives
German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, commented on Russia's long-standing relationship with China in the seafood trade. He noted that Russia led seafood exports to China from 2005 to 2020, before Ecuador took over in 2021 as the world's largest shrimp producer. Zverev credited Ecuador with creating the shrimp market in China from scratch, increasing its import share from 0-1% to over 13% in ten years.
Zverev also highlighted Russia's role in introducing premium seafood to China, particularly live crab, a market Russia essentially created from scratch. "Today, China is the world's largest consumer of this product," he said, adding that Ecuador and Norway later followed Russia's path.
The association's report suggests that Russia's strategy of balancing domestic consumption with raw material exports to Chinese processing plants has helped it maintain and regain leadership. Zverev pointed to increasing exports of frozen pollock, herring, cod for processing, live crab, surimi, and other highly processed products as key to this approach.
Looking ahead, the report cited Russia's export potential to China could increase 1.7-fold to almost $4.88 billion by 2030. This projection, however, was not detailed further in the available material.
Corrections and Clarifications
No discrepancies were found between the two TASS articles. Both rely on official Russian industry sources, and the figures are presented as consistent with Chinese customs data.