Egypt buys 5,600 tonnes of Russian herring in first half of year

Egypt bought 5,600 tonnes of Russian herring in the first half of 2026, up from 100 tonnes a year earlier, the Russian Fisheries Association said. The increase primarily reflects a redistribution of supplies between African markets.

Association president German Zverev said rising exports to Egypt were accompanied by declining shipments to other African buyers. Supplies to Côte d’Ivoire totalled 6,500 tonnes in January–May, falling by a factor of 1.6 compared with the same period a year earlier.

The association estimates that Egypt imports about 50,000 tonnes of herring annually. Russian suppliers obtained export permission in December 2020, with shipments beginning in 2023. The number of accredited Russian companies continues to increase.

Russian herring shipments to Egypt doubled over two years, reaching 6,400 tonnes in 2025. That figure covers a full year, while the latest figures cover only the first half of 2026.

The association cited competition with Norway in African markets. Its 2024 study projected that supplies to Africa could double to 134,400 tonnes by 2030. That projection concerns Africa as a whole, rather than Egypt alone.