(IntraFish) Exports up in January and February on strong catches of herring and Alaska pollock. Russian frozen fish exports rose by 36 percent to 267,000 metric tons in the first two months of 2012, preliminary data show.
The bulk was sent to China (73 percent) and Korea (24 percent), according to preliminary data from the Federal Customs Service of Russia.
Alaska pollock has become even more significant than before. Exports of pollock rose by 9 percent year-on-year to 152,000 metric tons in January and February, meaning it accounted for 57 percent of frozen exports.
Herring exports rose even more strongly, up 64 percent compared to last year, to a total of 80,000 metric tons.
In comparison salmon exports rose by only 3.7 percent to 15,000 metric tons.
The higher exports mirror strong catches. From January to March 11 this year, Russian catches of pollock were up by 2.2 percent to 576,000 metric tons, according to Russia’s Federal Fishery Agency.
Herring catches for the same period were up 18.9 percent to 93,300 metric tons, while cod catches rose 17.3 percent to 75,800 metric tons.