Russia to replace Chinese processors with its own plants, senior official says

Russia plans to displace Chinese processors and do more of its processing itself, according to a senior official representing the Russian industry at this week's Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium.

A “breakthrough” in Russian processing is about to happen, says Petr Savchuk, deputy head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries.

“We have technological advantages and the quality of Russian [processing] production is better,” Savchuk told SeafoodSource.

He pointed to a particular Russian strictness on any chemical additives in seafood processing as another reason why Russia can process its fish at home. Support from Russian President Vladimir Putin makes Savchuk confident that Russian processing plans will become a reality.

“There is presidential support and orders to make it happen,” explained Savchuk.

Savchuk’s comments represent bad news for Chinese processors, which are coming under increasing pressure from international competition. China has long been the leading processor of Russia’s pollock catch, with massive processing centers in Dalian and other northern Chinese port cities getting the bulk of the work thanks to their proximity to Russian waters.

In addition to seeking more processing work, Russia plans to prioritize the development of its aquaculture sector, Savchuk said. Fifteen new sites for salmon farming are part of an “aggressive” development of aquaculture, noted Savchuk. There will be similar investments in mackerel and sardine processing. In all, Russian seafood production is set to expand to five million tons in the years 2016 to 2018, up from 4.4 million tons in 2015.

Savchuk also said that Japan and China are both currently the focus of Russian efforts against Illegal fishing in Russian waters. Illegal Chinese fishing of sturgeon in the waters between the two countries has been raised in talks between Russia’s Federal Agency for Fisheries and its Chinese counterpart, Savhcuk said.

“This has to be fixed,” said Savchuk. “Also we are noticing some illegal catch in the Pacific Ocean.

In addition, Japanese vessels are transhipping catches from Russian waters through third-party countries without certification, Savchuk claimed.

“This is illegal and unacceptable,” Savchuk said, adding that Russia previously confronted a similar problem with North Korean fishing fleets.

Meanwhile, reopening of the Russian market to western exporters is “absolutely possible – as long as political sanctions are removed, Savchuk said.

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