Qingdao Seafood Expo Reflects New Directions in Seafood Processing: Russian Company Says Market Increasingly Values Ready-to-Cook Convenience and High-Value-Added Products

On November 13, 2026, Alexey Popov, Deputy General Director of the Russian fishing company "Ultra Fish," shared with the Russian fisheries news agency Fishnews the company's observations from participating in the Qingdao China International Fisheries Expo. He said that raw material prices and quality remain important competitive conditions, but processing depth, cooking convenience and packaging are playing an increasingly important role.

Popov said this year's Qingdao expo particularly highlighted a focus on high-value-added products. The company is expanding its supply of portioned fillets, semi-finished products and ready meals, adapting its product mix to changes in consumer habits.

One specific example he mentioned is the growing popularity of air fryers, a phenomenon particularly evident among young people. The popularity of such appliances is influencing the ready-to-cook category, involving recipes, portion sizes and cooking methods. Packaging has likewise become part of the consumption scenario, helping make family dinners simpler and more convenient.

Among exhibitors' products, Popov specifically mentioned the processed pollock roe products launched by the Russian Pollock Catchers Association for the Asian market. He considers this a representative example showing that rethinking familiar raw materials can open up new consumer directions.

This time, "Ultra Fish" participated in the China International Fisheries Expo as an exhibitor in the Russian national pavilion for the first time. Popov said that for this company, which combines import, distribution and its own processing, participating in the expo became an opportunity to strengthen business ties and assess prospects for expanding its product portfolio.

He also believes that international industry platforms enable companies to compare their own business plans with global trends and to choose practices that are in demand in the Russian market.