Kyrgyzstan Faces Major Fish Trade Deficit; Chile, Russia Top Suppliers

Kyrgyzstan experienced a substantial trade deficit in fish and seafood during the first six months of 2026, with imports outpacing exports by 4.8 times and reaching a deficit of $4.13 million. The country's primary sources for frozen fish, the most significant import category, were Chile and Russia. Data from the National Statistical Committee reveals a near-complete halt in domestic fish exports during June. Overall, fish and seafood imports for the period amounted to $5.21 million for 1,915 tons. Frozen fish imports alone accounted for $4.23 million for 1,683 tons, with Chile ($1.086 million), Russia ($1.015 million), and Denmark ($769.8 thousand) leading the supply. The country also imported 111.6 tons of fish fillet for $289.5 thousand and fresh/chilled fish worth $308.6 thousand (10.8 tons). In June, frozen fish imports saw a notable increase of 239.5 tons, valued at $591.9 thousand, primarily driven by increased supplies from Russia, while imports from Chile were not recorded for that month. The trade deficit in the fish sector widened considerably in June, adding over $1 million to the deficit accumulated by the end of May, which stood at $3.12 million. This widening gap is attributed to continued large-scale import purchases coinciding with minimal export activity.