Supplies of Russian fish products to Japan, 9M2026

Industry Economic

October 29th, 2026

In the first nine months of 2026, the volume of Russian fishery exports to Japan decreased (year-on-year) by 17% (from 90,800 to 75,300 tons), while the value decreased by 1.4% (from $616 million to $607.3 million). This data was revealed by an analysis of Japanese customs statistics.

The value of shipments decreased significantly less than their physical volume, as the average price of exported products increased by 19% from $6.78 to $8.06 per kg.

Alaska pollock remains one of Russia's key exports to Japan. The value of its shipments increased by 5% (from $56.5 million to $59.3 million) despite an 11% decrease in volume (from 23,400 to 20,900 tons). At the same time, pollock fillet shipments increased in both volume and value: by 13% (from 4,100 to 4,600 tons) and 35% (from $13.5 million to $18.2 million), respectively.

Frozen Kamchatka crab exports increased by 3% in volume (from 2,200 to 2,300 tons), and export revenue increased by 20% (from $63.8 million to $76.7 million). Shipments of frozen snow crab decreased by 15% (from 8,300 to 7,100 tons), while their value decreased by 7% from $140.8 million to $130.9 million.

Shipments of Pacific salmon (excluding sockeye salmon) decreased by 5% (from 2,400 to 2,200 tons), while their value increased by 20% to $15.6 million from $13 million the year before. Frozen sockeye salmon exports decreased by a third (-34%; from 11,700 to 7,800 tons), while the value declined less significantly, by 16% (from $84.2 million to $70.9 million), as the average price increased by more than a quarter (+27%; from $7.2 to $9.1 per kg).

Overall, increasing supplies to global markets remains an extremely challenging task for Russian fish exporters. Growth in volumes in certain destinations (for example, in China) is accompanied by declines in other markets, including due to prohibitive duties and other unfriendly restrictions, including an embargo on imports of Russian fish products (as in the US market).

At the same time, the needs of the domestic market are fully met (the level of self-sufficiency by the end of 2025 exceeded 120%), with supply diversification through the development of highly processed products. Based on the results of 8 months, the production volume of the main types of such products increased by 1.9%.