Russia Increases Fish & Seafood Exports To China As Russian Market Analytics Improve

Russia boosted exports of fish and seafood to China 15% to values of US$2.5 billion in 10M 2025, just behind China’s main source of fish – market leader Ecuador – whose exports to China are worth approximately US$2.7 billion. The data comes from China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC).

China increased fish and seafood imports from Ecuador 7% year-on-year in 10M 2025 versus 15% from Russia, meaning the gap in export revenues between the two countries to China narrowed to US$180 million from US$340 million a year ago.

This simple comparison illustrates how competitive Russian exporters, including its government agencies, have become in analysing export potential on a global basis. In the past, such agencies – and Russian exporters – were fundamentally lazy and disinterested. That has now changed. In a new world of sanctions and trade barriers, Russian export agencies have become more aggressive, competitive, and detailed in their work to push Russian exports ahead in global markets.

In terms of the China market, frozen seafood worth US$1.4 billion comprises the bulk of China’s fish imports from Russia, with crustaceans such as prawns worth US$999 million and fish fillets worth US$79 million.

In comparison, Russian export agencies point out that Ecuador is less diversified, generating nearly its entire export revenue from shrimp with a global value of US$2.66 billion of a total of US$2.7 billion in total exports in 10M 2025. Again, the fact this data exists in Russia illustrates how sophisticated Russian analysts are becoming when examining opportunities for Russian exporters to compete.

The top five fish and seafood exporters to China also include Vietnam with exports worth US$1.3 billion, Norway at US$1.1 billion, and the United States at US$913 million.

China has the highest total fish and seafood consumption globally, with consumption figures reaching over 59,000 tons per year. Factors influencing Chinese consumption include taste, quality, and competitive pricing, with food safety also being a major issue for Chinese buyers.