Fish supplies from Russia to Korea, 9M2026

Industry Economic

October 15th, 2026

In the first nine months of 2026, the volume of Russian fishery exports to South Korea decreased by 12.5% to 185.9 thousand tons, compared to 212.6 thousand tons a year earlier, while their value increased by 8.6% to $750.8 million, according to an analysis of South Korean customs statistics.

The increase in export revenue was driven by an increase in the average product price and a change in the supply structure: the average price per kilogram increased by approximately a quarter year-on-year (+24.1%; from $3.25 to $4.04), accelerating by 3.3 percentage points compared to the previous month.

Alaska pollock remains one of Russia's key export commodities, accounting for more than half (51.2%) of all deliveries by volume. Its shipments decreased by 19% in volume (to 95.1 thousand tons compared to 117.2 thousand tons a year earlier), while the value remained unchanged at $160.8 million compared to $160.9 million a year earlier. The average price per kilogram of pollock increased by almost a quarter (+23.1%; from $1.37 to $1.69).

Within pollock shipments, the share of deeply processed products is growing: fillets and minced meat now account for 26.6% of the volume, compared to 21.6% a year earlier. Frozen pollock exports decreased by 24% (to 69,800 tons) in volume and by 9.5% (to $88.1 million) in value, while fillet shipments increased by 11.3% (from 12,800 tons to 14,200 tons) and by 37% in value (from $32.5 million to $44.6 million).

The main driver of value growth was frozen crabs. Their volume increased by almost a third (+30.7%; from 7,100 tons to 9,200 tons), and their value increased by 1.3 times (+31.5%; from $95 million to $124.9 million).

Frozen herring exports nearly doubled in volume (+96%; from 8.9 thousand tons to 17.4 thousand tons) and increased 2.4-fold in value (+138%; from $7.6 million to $18 million). The average price per kilogram increased by 21% to $1.03.

Pacific salmon fillet shipments, on the other hand, decreased by more than a third in volume (-35%, to 145.8 tons), while export revenue decreased by only 2.2% to $490,000, thanks to a 51% increase in average value.