Russian pollock roe debuts as industrial samples at Qingdao seafood expo; exports to China have doubled to 1,000 tonnes
On October 29, 2026, the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency announced that Russian pollock roe is entering the Chinese consumer market. At the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2026 held in Qingdao, the Russian Pollock Catchers Association and Chinese manufacturers presented the first industrial samples of pollock roe developed for local tastes.
On October 29, 2026, the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency announced that Russian pollock roe is entering the Chinese consumer market. At the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2026 held in Qingdao, the Russian Pollock Catchers Association and Chinese manufacturers presented the first industrial samples developed from Russian pollock roe, with products designed for local Chinese tastes, including sauces, seasonings, snacks, caviar, and squid stuffed with roe.
Data from the Russian Pollock Catchers Association shows that in recent years, Russian pollock roe exports to China have doubled, reaching 1,000 tonnes. The association estimates that this new category has an annual potential of 5,000 tonnes.
The Russian Federal Fisheries Agency stated that Russian fishermen not only ensure high pollock catches but also work with processing companies to expand product categories, promote consumption, and open up new market space. A consumer market for pollock roe is taking shape in China.
Within Russia, pollock's popularity is also rising. It was previously reported that Russian pollock consumption has doubled over the past five years. According to the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency, since the start of this year, Russian fishermen have caught 1.94 million tonnes of pollock in the Far East basin.
The development of new markets is the result of joint efforts by fishermen, processing companies, and trading companies. In 2025, with the participation of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency, industry organizations from Russia and China signed a memorandum on promoting pollock roe in China.
According to the December 2025 import and export statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China, under the customs commodity classification (HS 03036700 frozen pollock, 03047500 frozen pollock fillets, 03049400 frozen pollock meat), Russia's pollock exports to China totaled 161.772 tonnes, with an export value of USD 407,031.0 and an average export price of USD 2,516.08 per tonne.