MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Russia became a top-five pollock surimi producer as of the end of 2024, with its production soaring by 47% to 70,800 metric tons.
"Russian fishermen increased by 47% production of pollock surimi - a key ingredient in imitation crab sticks and other fish-based products popular across the globe. Its production in the country reached 70,800 metric tons as of the end of 2024, compared to 47,500 metric tons the year prior. Thus, Russia moved into the top-five globally in manufacturing such products," the Pollock Catchers Association told TASS.
This big bump in domestic production made it possible to fully meet domestic demand for surimi used in crab sticks and other products, president of the association Alexey Buglak said.
"Currently, 90% of surimi-based products are made from high-quality, locally sourced wild fish. Previously, all crab sticks on Russian shelves were produced using imported surimi, mainly from farmed fish in Asia. Russia is also proactively increasing its share in the global market also," the president said.
Russia set a new pollock catch record in 2024, reeling in 1.99 mln metric tons of fish, the association added.