Russian fish exports to Brazil triple as revenue rises fifteenfold
Russia exported 580 tonnes of fish products to Brazil in the first nine months of 2026, up 200.2% year on year, while revenue climbed fifteenfold to $3.54 million. New cod shipments, particularly higher-value dried and salted clipfish, drove the unusually large increase in export value.
Shipments reach 580 tonnes
Russian fish exports to Brazil tripled in the first nine months of 2026, with volume rising 200.2% from 193.2 tonnes to 580 tonnes. Export revenue increased fifteenfold, from $233,500 to $3.54 million, according to PortNews, citing an analysis of Brazilian customs statistics by the Russian Association of Fishing Fleet Shipowners.
The difference between the growth rates reflects a major change in the product mix rather than volume alone. Russian cod was absent from shipments in the comparable period of 2025, but cod products became the main source of revenue in 2026. Pollock and cod together accounted for 552.3 tonnes worth $3.34 million, representing 95% of total volume and 94% of export value.
Clipfish drives the value increase
Russia began developing the Brazilian market for clipfish—salted and dried cod fillets—at the end of 2025. In the first nine months of 2026, shipments reached 166.2 tonnes worth $2.63 million. The product generated 74% of all Russian fish export revenue from Brazil despite representing less than one-third of the physical volume.
Clipfish deliveries also accelerated in September. Russia shipped 48.3 tonnes valued at $851,000 during the month, twice the volume recorded in any previous month. Its share of Brazilian clipfish imports rose to 15.2%, from 12.4% one month earlier. Norway remained the leading supplier, although its year-on-year share fell from 92.5% to 76.8%. Norwegian product retained a higher price at $17.3 per kilogram, compared with $15.8 for Russian dried cod.
Pollock leads volume, cod leads revenue
Frozen pollock remained Russia’s largest fish export to Brazil by volume, accounting for 64%. Deliveries increased 92% from 193.2 tonnes to 371 tonnes, while revenue rose 144% from $233,500 to $569,000. The average price gained 27% to $1.53 per kilogram. Russian shipments supplied 100% of Brazil’s frozen pollock imports during the period; China had held an 18% share one year earlier.
Russia also supplied 15.1 tonnes of frozen cod worth $136,600. Total cod products reached 181.3 tonnes and $2.77 million. Despite the rapid growth, Russia’s share of Brazil’s overall fish imports remained limited, increasing from 0.09% to 0.25%. PortNews reported that import duties remain a constraint because Russian exporters compete with products from MERCOSUR countries that enter Brazil duty-free. Brazil therefore offers room for further expansion, but sustaining growth will depend on the competitiveness of higher-value processed products as well as access costs.