RUSSIA RESTORES SEAFOOD EXPORTS TO CHINA CLOSE TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS

Russia restores seafood exports to China close to pre-pandemic levels. After a long hiatus, Russia has practically recovered its seafood exports to China, which were halted due to coronavirus restrictions.

China represents the largest market for Russian seafood, accounting for 61 percent of the country’s exports in 2019, with a total of 1.09 million metric tons (MT) supplied to China with a value of USD 3.3 billion (EUR 2.7 billion). The majority of Russian seafood exports to China is pollock, with the pollock trade worth between USD 580 to 600 million (EUR 477 to 494 million) annually. But beginning in early 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic threatened that relationship. Logistical problems were the primary difficulty initially.

In the period from January to March 2021, the supply of fish products to China was almost zero, said Alexei Dakhnovsky, Russia’s trade representative in China. Now this figure is only 6% less. Also, according to him, Russian entrepreneurs are ready to return to the level of previous trade as soon as possible, despite the resistance of the Chinese authorities.

According to the Far Eastern Customs Administration, in the period from January to September 2021, most of the fish products were exported to South Korea. The indicator was 65.2% (596.6 thousand tons). China is next: 28.8% (208.2 thousand tons). But experts say the South Korean supplies are in fact directed to China. Some of the products are supplied to the Chinese through South Korea.

A month ago, export issues were discussed at the International Fisheries Forum in St. Petersburg, where, among other things, supplies to China were discussed.

Source: sfera.fm