Russia increased its imports of farmed trout from Georgia to historic high of $1.6 million (€1.4 million) in June and became Georgia’s sole buyer of the aquaculture salmonids, the country’s RIA Novosti reported, citing data from the Georgian Statistics Service.

The value of these shipments increased nine fold compared to the same period last year: in Jun. 2025, Russia’s imports of farmed trout from Georgia was valued at $184,000 (€160,000).

The sharp growth in trout supplies from this Caucasus country occurred against the backdrop of a ban, which Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, known as Rosselkhoznadzor, put on seafood from Armenia, following disagreements with this republic.

Armenian trout farmers suffered the most from the ban. However, Russia also lost a significant source of farmed trout.

According to Russia’s official statistics, in 2025, Armenian farmed trout supplies to Russia accounted for around 7 percent of the total Russian trout market by volume.

Between January and February 2026, the share of Armenian trout on the Russian market increased to 10 percent, accounting for 12 percent of all Russian imports of farmed trout.

The entire Russian salmon market is estimated at around 195,000 metric tons, according to the country’s leading consulting group Strategy Partners, and is not fully satisfied by the domestic production.

Annually, Russia produces approximately 140,000 metric tons of farmed salmon, including Atlantic salmon and trout from the Murmansk region, as well as rainbow trout from Karelia, the country’s federal fishery agency, Rosrybolovstvo, said.

Therefore, import plays a significant role in satisfying demand in the Russian salmon market.

According to Russia’s official statistics data, the country imports approximately 75,000 metric tons of farmed trout per year, with Turkey, China, Iran, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan used to be the main suppliers.

Political disagreements are leading to the emergence of new players on the Russian farmed salmon market.

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