Imports of fish feed and feed raw materials from Russia to Norway rose more than 70 percent last year, despite a broader collapse in trade following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trade in food and feed ingredients is exempt from Western sanctions. However, the Norwegian government is preparing to raise tariffs on such imports in 2026, a move companies say will effectively end the trade.
Norway imported Russian goods worth NOK 21.9 billion (€1.95 billion) in 2021, equal to 2.6 percent of total imports. That figure fell sharply after sanctions were introduced, dropping to NOK 2.8 billion (€249 million) in 2025, according to new data from Statistics Norway.
Against that backdrop, imports of fish feed and feed ingredients moved in the opposite direction, rising more than 70 percent last year. Total imports from Russia increased 16 percent over the same period, according to Statistics Norway.
Mowi confirmed it has continued importing certain feed ingredients from Russia.
“We can confirm that Mowi Feed, like other feed manufacturers, has imported the feed ingredients rapeseed oil and soy protein concentrate from Russia in full compliance with current national and international regulations,” communications director Morten Bertelsen wrote in an email to Norwegian outlet E24.
The company said it plans to phase out imports during the second half of this year.
Feed producer Skretting also increased purchases of Russian soy protein concentrate by about 25 percent last year.
“In response to the government’s planned tariff increase, we are in the process of phasing out all use of raw materials from Russia and Belarus and are working to find new suppliers,” chief executive Leif Kjetil Skjæveland told E24.
Other major feed producers have already withdrawn from Russian sourcing.
BioMar said it halted all trade with Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Cargill said it imported 106,000 tonnes of raw materials from Russia in 2021 but had completely discontinued such purchases by the end of 2023.
Norway’s fisheries minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss said the government strongly condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but noted that food and feed products are largely exempt from sanctions.
Following EU measures raising tariffs on certain agricultural goods and fertilisers from Russia and Belarus in 2024 and 2025, Norway is preparing similar steps.
