South Africa resumes seafood exports to Russia

South Africa will resume seafood exports to Russia after almost two decades; 12 South African companies have been granted licence to export canned and frozen fish.

“Since the late 1990s, this is the first time South African fish will be exported to Russia on a commercial basis,” Felix Ratheb, chief executive of the Cape Town-based Sea Harvest, told Reuters.

Ratheb said its first exports to Russia were expected in early 2015 and would begin at about 500 tonnes a year, worth between 25 million and 40 million rand ($2 million to $3.5 million).

South Africa's total fish exports in 2012 were valued at 3.5 billion rand but this figure could increase if Russia becomes a major importer, Ratheb said.