"The increase in exports was made possible by advancements in sturgeon aquaculture production," a statement issued by Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture said, according to RIA Novosti. "The current favorable market conditions caused by the existing currency exchange rates have also contributed to this development."
However, several other countries also seek to boost their economies by exporting this tasty commodity so Russia may be in for some serious competition.
According to Bloomberg, Japan is already aiming at becoming the next global caviar powerhouse. A successful sturgeon breeding experiment by a state-run research institute in Miyazaki prefecture has already allowed the country to begin commercial harvesting of caviar since 2013, granting Tokyo a salty chunk of the global caviar market.
Iran also seeks to reestablish its positions on the luxury foods market, which was previously undermined by Western sanctions. Iran's nuclear deal may allow Tehran to once again export its domestically-produced sturgeon across the world.
