Japan imported a record JPY 155.2 billion worth of marine products from Russia in 2022, according to data from the country’s Finance Ministry. Japan Today reported the figures showed the country’s continued reliance on Moscow for its seafood supply despite a deterioration of relations over the war in Ukraine.
While Japan has imposed some economic sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, marine products were exempt as Tokyo deemed the adverse effect on domestic businesses would be too great.
Japan’s poor catches and Russia’s larger volume in waters around disputed islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia, were factors in last year’s imports hitting the highest since 1992. The previous record high was in 2018 when Japan imported JPY 140.2 billion of marine products from Russia.
It’s estimated Japan imports around 40% of the seafood consumed in the country, with Russia ranking third after Chile and the United States by import value in 2022.
In terms of products, snow crab accounted for the highest value of imports from Russia last year at JPY 32.6 billion, while imports of pollack paste increased to JPY 7.4 billion.
