Import of fish, fish products and other aquatic biological resources in Ukraine in 2019 amounted to 399,100 tonnes for a total of $753.2 million, which is $117 million, or 18.5% more than in 2018, the State Fishery Agency has reported. In natural terms, according to data released by the Ukrainian Importers of Fish and Seafood Association (UIFSA) this week, import growth was 5%.
The association indicates that in 2018 the volume of imports in monetary terms increased by 20.5%, and in natural terms by 16%.
According to the agency, the main suppliers of aquatic biological resources to Ukraine (in natural terms) are Norway (80,000 tonnes for $205.4 million), Iceland (60,700 tonnes for $93.5 million), Estonia (39,600 tonnes for $16.8 million), the United States (30,700 tonnes for $67.6 million) and Canada (20,600 tonnes for $39.4 million).
Also, large volumes of fish products were delivered from Latvia, Spain, China, and the UK.
The agency said that about 80-90% of the volume of imports accounts for fish species, to which Ukraine does not have access, and are caught exclusively in the marine economic zones of other states.
“Basically, frozen fish or its fillets are imported to our country, which makes up 80% of imports. These products are mainly processed at domestic fish enterprises,” the agency said.
