“Supplies of Russian Pacific herring surged by 57% to 187,500 tons, primarily due to a 104% increase in shipments to China, amounting to 123,200 tons,” VARPE reports.
“Contrary to this trend, Norwegian herring exports decreased by 22% to 123,200 tons over the same period. Consequently, Russian fishermen surpassed one of their main competitors in terms of supply volume last year,” noted the association, highlighting Russia’s emergence as the largest supplier of herring to the global market.
Beyond China, supplies to other countries have also seen an uptick; for instance, exports to Nigeria have risen by 56%. Russian herring has promising prospects in the markets of other African countries.
The global herring market, valued at approximately $700 million, is segmented into several regions: the Pacific (where Russia accounts for 80% of the global catch), the Atlantic, and the Baltic. In monetary terms, Russia’s share of this market is estimated at 27%.
“In 2023, Russian fishermen harvested 406,200 tons of Pacific herring, 74,100 tons of Atlantic herring, and 24,500 tons of Baltic herring. This yield suffices to fully satisfy the demand in the domestic market, which is a priority due to the popularity of this fish. According to the VCIOM (Russian Public Opinion Research Center), herring ranks as the first or second most popular product among Russian consumers,” said German Zverev, President of VARPE.
