Русский
Egypt has massively increased its purchases of herring from Russia, with 5,600 tonnes being imported in Russia in H1 2026 compared to 100 tonnes for the same period in 2025.
Egypt is one of the largest consumers and importers of fish on the African continent. Annually it imports about 50,000 tonnes of herring, and for Russia, as the largest herring catcher in the world, the market is of obvious interest. Russian fishermen are in tough competition with Norway, which was historically the largest supplier of herring on the African market.
It is used in traditional Egyptian dishes such as Renga bel Tahini, in which herring is smoked then added to salads and other sauces. Last year, the Russian herring catch was a record 677,000 metric tons, with 2026 expected to exceed this. With lower production and fuel costs, Russian fish are now starting to compete with more expensive European catches. Egypt is also a full member of BRICS, which encourages intra-BRICS trade.
German Zverev, the President of VARPE, the Russian Fishing Association, said that “We currently classify Egypt as a new market. Permission for supplies was obtained in December 2020, and actual shipments began in 2023. The number of Russian companies accredited for imports into Egypt is consistently growing, which also has a positive effect on the dynamics of supplies. Egypt is increasing purchases of Russian herring. Over the past two years, supplies have grown twofold in physical terms, reaching 6,400 tonnes in 2025. In the first half of the current year, Egypt was the fastest-growing market for Russian herring. Supplies reached 5,600 tonnes compared to 100 tonnes for the same period of 2025.”
Zverev added that another issue is the redistribution of Russian herring supplies to Africa rather than growth in the importance of the African market in total supplies. While exports to Egypt are growing, supplies to other African herring-consuming markets are declining. For example, exports to Cote d’Ivoire decreased 37.5% to 6,500 tonnes in January-May this year. Nevertheless, the market’s potential is high, he said. A study conducted by VARPE in 2024 showed that supplies to Africa may triple in physical terms by 2030, to 134,400 tonnes.
