Imports of sea delicacies jumped in Russia

In 2021, imports of fish and seafood amounted to about 516.47 thousand tons, which is almost 20% higher than the same period last year. In monetary terms, the indicator increased by 28%, to $1.9 billion. This is evidenced by the data for 11 months of last year, which the All-Russian Association of Fishermen (VARPE) provided to Izvestia. We are talking about the FCS invoice, the organization clarified. The overall increase in imports was due to an increase in the supply of premium products – crustaceans and mollusks, the VARPE added.

Thus, the supply of lobsters increased by 2.1 times: last year, 12.24 tons of the delicacy worth $670 thousand were delivered to Russia. The import of lobsters jumped 2.6 times and amounted to almost 14.5 thousand tons – $300 thousand. with shellfish: supplies of oysters increased by 58%, to 384 tons, imports of cuttlefish grew by almost 85%, to 24.85 thousand tons, octopuses – by 89%, to more than 2 thousand tons. Imports of fish increased by almost 23%. fillets, its deliveries in 2021 reached almost 69.5 thousand tons.

Due to the situation with the coronavirus and numerous restrictions, the tourist opportunities of Russians were reduced to a minimum, many refused to travel abroad or rested within the country, German Zverev, President of the WARPE, explained. Nevertheless, the Russians decided to leave the “attributes” of a vacation, so they more often bought premium seafood or visited establishments where they are served. It became a kind of anti-stress, German Zverev noted.

In 2021, the main increase in imports was due to mollusks and crustaceans, Izvestia was told in the Federal Agency for Fishery. The volume of imports of shellfish increased by 51.8%, crustaceans – by 35.7%, the agency said.

More details in the exclusive material of Izvestia:

Right into the lobster: imports of seafood delicacies jumped in Russia