Russia Seeks to Expand Marine Product Exports to China

Russia is looking to capitalize on China’s ban on Japanese seafood imports following the release of treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. With 894 Russian companies already authorized to export seafood to China, Russia is one of the largest suppliers of marine products to the country.

Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian food safety watchdog, expressed its intention to increase the number of exporters in a recent statement. The organization acknowledged the promising potential of the Chinese market for Russian fish products and expressed hopes of enhancing the volume, range, and number of certified Russian companies and ships exporting to China.

To facilitate this effort, Rosselkhoznadzor plans to engage in ongoing discussions with China regarding seafood safety issues and finalize negotiations on regulations governing the supply of Russian marine products to China.

China’s Importance as a Market for Russian Aquatic Products

Between January and August, China served as the destination for more than half of Russia’s aquatic product exports, dominated by species such as pollock, herring, flounder, sardine, cod, and crab. However, specific figures were not provided in the statement released by Rosselkhoznadzor.

Last year, Russia exported 2.3 million metric tons of marine products valued at approximately $6.1 billion, accounting for around half of its overall catch. The major importers of Russian marine products were China, South Korea, and Japan, according to Russia’s fisheries agency.

Reassurances and Precautionary Measures

Japan has dismissed criticism from Russia and China, asserting that it lacks scientific evidence and that pollution levels in the water will be below the safe thresholds set by the World Health Organization for drinking water.

Nevertheless, Rosselkhoznadzor has tightened its scrutiny of Japanese seafood imports, even though the volumes are currently insignificant. The regulator emphasized that the currents in the Russian Far East, where about 70% of Russia’s seafood is caught, would prevent contamination of marine products caught by Russian ships.

The agency has also intensified radiological controls on seafood caught in Russian waters near Fukushima. Selected samples will be tested for radiation levels, as reported by Rosselkhoznadzor’s Pacific office.