Market overview
Over the past two years, Russian consumption of fish and seafood has dropped, primarily due to the country’s fluctuating economic state. Historically, however, the market has been durable.
Over the past decade, Russia has been among the 20 top seafood importers around the globe. In 2014, for example, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), reported that Russia imported 885,000 tons of seafood and fish products valued at US$2.9 billion.
When broken down into product categories, USDA figures showed Russian imports split as follows: 50% frozen fish; 14.6% ready to eat/canned fish products; 14.2% fish fillets and other fish fare; 10% crustaceans and molluscs and 9.7% fresh and chilled fish.
Average consumption of fish and seafood in Russia over the past two decades stood at around 22 kilograms per capita per annum, according to the USDA.
Where does Russia get its fish and seafood?
Prior to the 2014 embargo, Norway had been the leading supplier to Russia of fish and seafood products, with a 19% market share. China followed with a 14% share and Chile came third with a 13.5% slice of the market.
However, Russia in now actively looking for new sources of fish and seafood because of the ban on imports from Norway and disease having taken a huge toll on the salmon industry of Chile.
Over the past year, Peru, Argentina and Ecuador as well as several other South American countries have increased their consignments of fish and seafood to the Russian market.
South Africa, has also once again started shipping fish and seafood products to the Russian market. Sea-Harvest, based out of South Africa, for example, has revealed that it has shipped around 500 tons of seafood products, valued at around US$3.5 million, recently.
The Faroe Islands has boosted its Russian fish exports nearly twofold. Deliveries from the small island nation totalled 20,000 tons in 2015. Given that previous shipments of Norway stood at roughly 60,000 tons, the accomplishment of the Faroe Islands is noteworthy.
Southeast Asia is also very much a focus for Russian importers, says Vasep. Local producers have expanded operations and signed contracts with Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian body responsible for overseeing the quality of food imports, to increase delivery levels.
What fish and seafood are in high demand?
Salmon is the most popular seafood product among Russian consumers. Prior to the food bans being enacted, Norwegian producers had been shipping roughly US$533 million of salmon to Russia each year.
There remains a healthy demand for other species including trout, herring, shrimp and prawns, mussels etc. Whole Atlantic mackerel has also seen an increase in demand as the sanctions remain in place.
Per Vasep, local producers have been increasing their supplies of pangasius catfish to Russia.
The country’s largest pangasius catfish producer, Hung Vuong, has also announced it will be moving some of its operations into Russia through the acquisition of a 51% stake of Russian Fish Joint Stock Company.
The move, says Hung Vuong, is aimed at gaining market share and improving levels and quality of Alaskan Pollock in Russia.
Meanwhile a free trade agreement between Vietnam and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that came into effect October 5, 2016 is expected to aid local companies in competing in the Russian market through the removal of tariffs (currently at 5.63%) and other trade barriers.
The EAEU comprises the five countries of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Fish and seafood exports to the EAEU reached US$51.87 million (including Russian exports of US$51.55 million) for the eight months leading up to September of 2016.
The local fish and seafood industry is now hoping to catch a large share of the Russian market over the next few years, says Vasep, though admittedly the challenges in accomplishing that task are daunting.
Source: VOV
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn