In 2025, Russia increased herring exports by 72%.

According to preliminary estimates by experts, in the first eight months of 2025, Russian herring exports increased by 72% compared to the same period last year and reached $168 million, while the physical volume of shipments increased by 48% to 177 thousand tons, the press service of the Federal Center Agroexport told Izvestia on September 29.

The bulk of the revenue came from frozen herring, whose exports increased by 70% year-on-year to $146 million. Another 10% is accounted for by herring fillets ($17 million, 2.3 times), 2.2% — finished or canned herring products ($4 million, +4.8%).

China is the largest buyer of Russian frozen herring. In January-August 2025, shipments to China increased 2.1 times, to $95 million. In second place is the Republic of Korea with a volume of about $20 million, which is 17% higher than in the first eight months of 2024. Nigeria closes the "top 3": since the beginning of the year, more than $13 million worth of Russian frozen herring has been shipped to this country - twice as much as the same period last year.

As in the previous year, Belarus is the largest market in the herring fillet segment with a share of more than 90%. And the leading consumer of Russian canned herring is Kazakhstan with a share of about 34%.

"In 2024, the volume of global trade in herring and its products exceeded $1.5 billion, and Russia is one of the largest exporters. The demand for fish and seafood in foreign markets is growing, especially in the low-cost segment. Herring is one of the most sought—after and affordable fish products not only on the Russian market, but also a component of the diet of residents of many other countries," Ilya Ilyushin, head of the Agroexport Federal Center, explained to Izvestia.

German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Fishing Industry Association (WARPE), told Izvestia that the growth in Russian herring exports in 2025 was due to the recovery in demand on the global market. Last year, herring exports from the Russian Federation to the main sales markets dropped significantly, and this year volumes are recovering. Good fishing results also help Russia to increase herring exports. According to the data, by mid-September, the catch of Pacific herring in the Russian Federation reached 391 thousand tons, which is 21% more than on the same date last year.

"Herring is the most popular type of fish in Russia, so fishing is focused primarily on satisfying domestic consumption. At the same time, the good situation in the fishing of the most widespread type of herring in the country — Pacific herring — and good forecasts for the catch of Atlantic herring (about 60 thousand tons, at the level of 2024) allow us to increase exports," he said.

According to Zverev, Russia remains the main supplier of herring to the two largest consumer markets — China and the Republic of Korea.

"This is a consequence of the deliberate policy of Russian exporters to strengthen their positions in these markets. In addition, when supplying Asian markets, due to the shorter logistical leverage and good catch volumes of cheaper Pacific herring, we have a price advantage over our main competitor in the herring sector, Norway," added the president of VARPE.

He gave an example according to which Russian (Pacific) herring is shipped to the Chinese market for $0.75 per kilogram, while Norwegian (Atlantic) herring is shipped for $1.41 per kilogram.

According to a study conducted by VARPE on the potential of Russian fish exports, by 2030, Russian exports of frozen herring may grow by more than one and a half times in monetary terms, to over $301 million. Zverev said that now frozen herring is more appreciated on the world market, and the demand for fillets is low. For herring fillets, the main supply direction is the domestic market, as the expert pointed out, but his corporation sees prospects for an increase in the supply of frozen herring while maintaining positive catch dynamics, noting the Egyptian market as very promising. This country is one of the largest importers of herring, but currently the Norwegians are bypassing the Russian Federation in this area: last year, Russia supplied 5,000 tons to the Egyptian market.

According to the VARPE data, which was reviewed by Izvestia on September 10, since the beginning of this year's salmon harvest, over 7.3 thousand tons of salted red caviar have been labeled on the Russian market — this figure is 18% more than in 2024. This process is already coming to an end, which allows us to talk about the formation of a stable and targeted trend in the domestic market.

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