October, 22-24, 2025, Saint Petersburg

Demand for packaging is on the rise
Packaging is used consistently throughout fish product processing and is crucial for the sale of fish, seafood and seafood products. Withdrawal by foreign suppliers did not stop the operation of domestic fish-processing companies but forced them to pay closer attention to domestic producers, for whom a promising new niche has opened up onthe fish market.
The approach to packaging depends largely on the type of fish product. In addition to frozen, chilled, salted and smoked fish, more and more new categories are appearing on the shelves. The formats gaining particular popularity with Russians include ready-to-eat and easy-to-cook products, which require temperature controlled packaging.
Another promising area is canned fish products. On the UK market, costly canned fish has become a new trend, the price of a can of tuna sometimes reaching 20–30 pounds. Packaging plays an important role here. In addition to a smart tin design, many manufacturers in Europe have begun packing them in another layer of cardboard with a pictorial illustration. Eye-catching patterns, stylized images of fish or even scenes from Greek myths – these and other graphic tricks help make a product stand out on the shelf, creating added value for the consumer.
Opportunities for Russian manufacturers
Russia holds huge reserves of raw materials and possesses modern technology for producing high quality and diverse canned fish products. Already in demand on the Russian market, it also has significant export potential. An additional advantage for increasing the supply of canned food to abroad is the simplicity of logistics, which do not require such costs and investments as transportation of frozen or chilled fish. Interest in such products from Russia is being shown by companies from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The approach to promoting each of these markets will differ significantly but demand for packaging is equally pressing for all of them.
An appropriate sector has been set up within the Seafood Expo Russia exhibition to help fish producers find partners and suppliers of packaging, materials and equipment for producing it. Last year, around 20 companies took part in this. In addition to regular exhibitors, new companies joined in to discover the prospects for working with the fish market. Among them are developers, manufacturers and suppliers of equipment for the food industry, such as Bazim, BESTEQ Engineering, Russkaya Bronya, and Technoflot. Other domestic companies including Monevac, IPlast, Master Upakovki, Mosstroy-31, Russkoe Pole, Finfleks, Format, Soyuz-Polymer, Plastmass Group and others offered materials and packaging solutions for both small and large-scale production facilities. Scale Enterprise, a manufacturer of Russian platform scales, exhibited not only its products but also samples of foreign-made checkweighers, labellers and weighing equipment elements.
The Turkish company CEHUMA presented thermoforming packaging machines it makes itself. RAINBOW JUTE MILLS brought to St Petersburg natural packaging materials made of strong jute fabrics. And Korea’s Saehwa Corrugated Packaging offered containers and packaging made of paperboard for long-term storage of frozen fish products. Ulma Packaging is also among the regular exhibitors.
Novaya Liniya and G. Mondini, an Italian company specializing in complete lines for dispensing and packaging, will participate for the first time this year.
Pack and deliver
Last year, the Forum and Exhibition were held in parallel with the Cold Chain Eurasia International Conference for Unbroken Cold Chain. Its important difference from the main agenda is its focus on transportation not only of fish but of any temperature-sensitive food and non-food product. More than 300 experts participated in the Conference in person last year, including representatives of business, industry associations and authorities from Russia, neighbouring countries, Europe and Asia. This year, the Conference will be held on 19 September, also in parallel with Seafood Expo Russia.
The VII Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia will be held on 17–19 September at the Expoforum Exhibition and Convention Centre in St Petersburg, once again bringing together participants from all spheres of the fishing industry, from fishing vessels to stores, from Russia and other countries.
Follow updates on the official website of the event.