Tehran — Iran is preparing to significantly expand fish and shrimp exports to Russia, with Moscow expected to send a veterinary delegation to Tehran on October 5 to help pave the way for increased imports from Iranian producers.

 

Ali-Akbar Khodaei, head of Iran’s Union of Aquatic Animal Producers and Exporters, said Russian purchases of Iranian fish could rise fivefold, potentially reaching 100,000 tons.

 

He said 20 Iranian companies currently hold licenses to export fish to Russia, while the upcoming visit by the Russian veterinary delegation could pave the way for 10 to 12 additional companies to gain access to the Russian market.

 

“If exports reach the projected 100,000-ton level, Russia would account for about 6.5 percent of Iran’s total annual fisheries production, estimated at 1.5 million tons.”

 

Russia is already a major market for Iranian shrimp and trout. In 2024, Russia imported around 19,000 tons of fish and other fisheries products from Iran, making it the country’s third-largest export destination for aquatic products, after Iraq and China, the official said.

 

Iran’s Fisheries Organization says the country harvests more than 800,000 tons of aquatic products annually and produces over 700,000 tons through aquaculture. National trout production capacity is estimated at around 200,000 tons per year.