Demand for Russian fish is growing in Europe despite the sanctions. And here's why

The European Union cannot abandon fish from Russia, despite the sanctions: in the first half of 2025, fish exports to the EU increased to 122 thousand tons. The main driver was pollock fillet, the supply of which increased 2.2 times. Why Europe cannot abandon Russian fish and what are the market prospects for Russian producers — in the Izvestia article.

Trade continues despite sanctions

• Despite all the restrictions and tariffs, the European Union still continues to purchase Russian energy resources and metals, and remains dependent on Russia for food security. According to the analytical company Kpler, as of November 2025, the European Union continued to purchase Russian gas and petroleum products. In 2024, the EU imported $36.29 billion worth of goods from Russia: the bulk of Russian exports to Europe are fossil fuels and oils, as well as metals and fertilizers.

• In addition to energy resources, Europe continues to buy food from Russia. "Wild" fish and seafood make up a small but stable part of Russian exports to the EU — in 2024, the European Union acquired fish, crustaceans, shellfish and aquatic invertebrates for $751.74 million. In financial terms, exports to the EU did not decrease in 2025 either — in the first half of the year, Russia sold only fillets and fish meat worth €293.3 million ($346.09 million). There is no data for the entire year 2025 yet.

The EU depends on Russian fish

• The EU buys mainly white fish from Russia — Pacific cod and haddock, as well as pollock from the Okhotsk and Bering Seas (Alaskan pollock, as it is called in the foreign press). European fishermen produce popular semi—finished products from Russian raw materials, such as breaded fillets and fish sticks, and the finished products are supplied not only to the EU domestic market, but also to other countries.

• In 2022, of the Russian seafood products, only those belonging to the premium segment, crabs and caviar, were sanctioned by the EU. But in the same year, Europe increased its imports of white fish from Russia at a record pace, and within two years Russian products were crowding out American ones, occupying 27% of the European market. But starting from January 1, 2024, Russian fish in Europe will be subject to a duty of 13.7%. As a result, fish exports to Europe decreased by 17%. The USA won because they have the right to import duty-free fish to the European market.

• 2025 proved to be a more successful year for Russian producers — in the first nine months, exports of fish and seafood increased by 5% in volume and 15% in value, reaching 1.5 million tons worth $4.1 billion. The increase in exports occurred due to the abolition of Russian export duties on certain types of fish and seafood, which were in effect from 2023.

• In addition, Russian companies have increased their processing capacities, and as a result, Europe has begun to buy not just fish, but semi-finished products with added value. This increased revenue by 40% in 2025 and made the European market a premium for Russian manufacturers.

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• The European Union may consume much more Russian whitefish than is reflected in its reports. A significant part of the products are purchased not directly in Russia, but through third countries. In 2022, China, South Korea, Norway and the Netherlands were the major re-exporters of Russian fish. After the EU imposed duties on imports of Russian whitefish, which Norway joined, China plays a leading role in the processing and further sale of fish products from Russia. According to the EU Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE-CEP), in 2023, China exported 345 thousand tons of pollock products to Europe, and 95% of this volume was produced from Russian raw materials.

Why sanctions are ineffective

• On average, the EU consumes 23.7 kg of fish per person per year, with 1.75 kg of this volume being cod. At the same time, most of the products are produced outside the European Union: in 2024, Europe imported 93% of white fish, and half of all cod and 70% of pollock were supplied from Russia.

• Europe cannot abandon Russian imports, because American raw materials, even with zero duties, are more expensive than Russian ones. The fish processing industry is an important component of the European economy. The products are partially sold within the Union, while significant volumes are sent abroad to China, the United States and Latin America.

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Why has bilateral trade fallen to a minimum and what formats of cooperation have been preserved?

• It is impossible to obtain raw materials for production within the EU. Despite the fact that the Baltic Sea is practically internal to the European Union, with the exception of the area that belongs to Russia, it is one of the most polluted bodies of water. Some efforts will be required from the EU to restore Baltic fish stocks. At the same time, the Baltic countries are opposed to stricter fishing quotas, as they fear that with the restoration of the fish population, Russia will also increase catches.

• The main buyers of Russian cod and pollock in Europe are Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, France, Portugal and Spain. Fish processing facilities in Portugal would have been empty after Canada closed the Newfoundland fishery due to depletion of stocks, if not for frozen Russian cod. Poland, despite its commitment to anti-Russian sanctions, has not included fish in the list of Russian goods for which duties should be increased, since producers are 100% dependent on imported raw materials.

European fishermen have repeatedly expressed concern about sanctions against Russia. In May 2025, when the EU imposed sanctions on the main Russian suppliers of gutted whitefish to Europe, Norebo and Murman, the European Association of Fish Processors and Traders (AIPCE—CEP) warned that the industry was already facing rising logistics costs, and new measures against Russian products would raise even more prices. Industrialists demanded that Brussels postpone the imposition of sanctions.

What does this mean?

• By applying sanctions against Russia, the European Union is "shooting itself in the foot", ignoring the interests of its own producers and the threat to the economy. But without Russian fish, it is impossible to close the food needs of Europe. Therefore, gray schemes are used in the EU fish market, when Russian fish is labeled as Norwegian or Chinese after processing in order to avoid duties.

• The shortage of cod in the market is expected to grow this year, as Russia and Norway have agreed on the lowest fishing quota in the Barents Sea in the last 35 years. Since the restriction will be reciprocal, the EU will not be able to replace Russian cod with imports from Norway and the price of fish will rise. Against this background, there is a possibility that the European Union will not impose restrictions on Russian fishermen, because any obstacle to fish from Russia will have a painful impact on the European economy.