Russian Pollock Catchers Association Debuts "China Shelf" in Qingdao, Showcasing Deep-Processed Russian Pollock Roe Products

On October 29, 2026, the Russian Pollock Catchers Association (АДМ) set up a booth for the first time at an international fisheries exhibition—at the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo held in Qingdao—to showcase products developed in China using Russian pollock roe (狭鳕鱼籽) as raw material. The association said the goal of participating in the expo was to open up new markets for its suppliers around this product.

According to the association's press service, which spoke to Fishnews, the "China Shelf" presented at the booth includes domestic, Japanese and Korean products made from Russian pollock roe, as well as the first industrial development results from major Chinese producers. Association President Alexey Buglak called this a "historic milestone for the global pollock roe market," saying China is becoming a full-fledged consumer market for the product and that Chinese producers are adapting it to the characteristics of Chinese cuisine and local consumer preferences. He said the creation of this new market segment was preceded by extensive work by Russian companies, Chinese research institutions, producers and technical personnel, and the project team. Buglak also expressed gratitude to the Chinese business community for its openness and willingness to explore new technological solutions for developing fish consumption in China, and mentioned that the association worked with local designers to develop a dedicated mascot character for the project, giving Russian pollock roe its own image in the Chinese market.

A total of four local companies took part in creating the "China Shelf" at the Qingdao booth. Peiqi Food Co. developed dry seasonings with added pollock roe for popular freeze-dried dishes in China; Gaishi Group launched ready-to-eat snacks and the well-known "mentaiko" sauce; Liaoyu Group Co., Ltd. offered canned and marinated product lines and products such as "roe sausage"; and Xiamen group introduced roe sauce whose flavor profile is no less impressive than well-known Japanese products. In addition, one of China's major retailers, JDgroup, prepared its own first semi-finished product for the expo—squid stuffed with pollock roe, in a Ready-to-Cook format.

The association and partners that have already mass-produced pollock roe products or are in the development stage will continue to advance cooperation through meetings in the association's negotiation area. According to the association's press service, in dozens of negotiations, the association's marketing team, the commercial departments of member companies, and local companies planning to produce Russian pollock roe products will jointly discuss strategies for bringing new products into the Chinese market, category projects, pricing issues, and technical and logistics solutions; for companies just beginning to study this new Chinese "superfood," the association will provide tasting kits.

During the expo, the association's booth also featured performances: a cooking competition involving young Chinese chefs, presenting various dumpling variations and appetizers made with pollock roe; and popular Chinese bloggers doing live broadcasts on site.

The association estimates the potential of the Chinese pollock roe market at no less than 5,000 tons per year. In 2023, the association launched a project to boost consumption of the product in China's domestic market. Since then, Russian exports of pollock roe to China have doubled to 1,000 tons. According to the association's estimates, on a full-year basis, this figure will grow by 20%.