EU sanctions against Russian fish will hit processors in Germany

German companies will be seriously affected by the new EU sanctions against imports of fish products from Russia. The Berliner Zeitung newspaper wrote about this on June 12.

"Almost 17% of all fish imports to Germany currently come from Russia. For many families, they are now one of the few fish products that are still relatively affordable. The planned fish sanctions currently occupy many companies in the industry. This topic is carefully monitored in the management offices of processors and dealers," the publication says.

The publication notes that in recent years, Germany has increased imports of fish products from the Russian Federation, which has tripled since 2021. In 2025, Germany imported about 109 thousand tons of fish from Russia worth about €311.5 million. Thus, 16.6% of all fish products imported to Germany by weight came from Russia.

Approximately 40% of all fish products imported into the EU from Russia came from Germany. From 55 to 72% of the Alaska pollock processed in the republic comes directly or indirectly from Russia. It is this fish that is used in the production of fish sticks and other deep-frozen products popular in Germany.

According to the Berliner Zeitung, the new restrictions will primarily affect firms operating in the field of fish processing in the north of Germany, especially in Mecklenburg—Vorpommern. Some representatives of the business community there, on condition of anonymity, have already announced the threat of job losses and the transfer of activities abroad. The sanctions will also lead to higher prices for everyday products such as the fish fingers beloved by Germans.

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Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, noted on the social network X on June 9 that the possible introduction by the European Union (EU) of a ban on fish imports from Russia as part of a new package of anti-Russian sanctions would lead to higher prices within the community itself. As previously reported by the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen, a ban on the import of fish products from Russia is possible as part of a new package of anti-Russian sanctions.