August 2, 2012

Russia ups chilled fish imports by 75% in January-June

In January-June of this year, Russia increased fresh and chilled fish imports by 74.7% on year, of which 91.5% of the country's fish imports accounts for shipments from Norway.  

Chilled salmon imports rose 64.5% in the reporting period to 58,400 tonnes, while chilled trout supplies soared to 13,100 tonnes from 5,696 tonnes a year earlier.

Fish fillet imports fell 22.8% in January-June to 48,000 tonnes due to a 25.5% cut in herring fillet imports to 16,700 tonnes and a 28.5% fall in imports of Chinese tilapia and Vietnamese pangasius to 12,800 tonnes.

Crustaceans imports fell 18.4% to 23,500 tonnes, while mollusk supplies went down 10.6% to 11,300 tonnes.

Imports of ready-to-eat and canned fish products increased 19% to 45,000 tonnes. Sardinella and sprat account for the bulk of canned fish imports in Russia.