Since the beginning of the year (from January 1st to April 6th), Russia has exported a total of 11.8 million tons of grain and its processed products to foreign countries. This was reported by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) on Thursday.
According to data from the Russian Federal State Information System (FGIS Argus-Fito), which cites Rosselkhoznadzor, wheat exports to African countries and the Middle East in the first quarter of 2025 have increased significantly compared to the same period last year.
For example, deliveries to Nigeria increased fourfold to 210,000 tons. Imports of Russian wheat to Tunisia increased by 78% to 191,000 tons, to Morocco by 72% to 147,000 tons and to Mozambique by twelvefold to 74,000 tons.
“The shipments of wheat (373,000 tons) from the ports of the Leningrad Region to Israel, Bangladesh, Senegal and Togo, as well as barley (127,000 tons) to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Libya, have started” the agency stated.
Russian grain exports to Africa have been increasing significantly in recent years. Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an increase in agricultural exports by 50% by 2030 compared to the level of 2021, when they amounted to $37 billion.
Last month, the Moscow Department of Agriculture reported that Russian food exports to African countries in 2024 reached a value of over $7 billion, an increase of 19% compared to 2023.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agroexport Center, local food was delivered to 45 countries on the continent, with Egypt remaining the largest importer.
The value of Algerian imports of Russian goods, including wheat, sunflower and soybean oil, legumes, flaxseed, molasses and yeast, increased by 21%.
Algeria ranks second in Russian food imports, followed by Libya, Kenya and Tunisia, according to agroexport data. Grains – mainly wheat, barley and corn – accounted for 87% of all food deliveries to the continent. Milk products also saw significant growth in the past year.
Last year, Russia displaced France as Morocco’s top grain supplier. Ruslan Khasanov, head of the Moscow Center for Grain Quality Control, cited competitive prices and limited French supplies as reasons for the change.
In addition to African countries, the shipments of buckwheat from Russia to China have tripled to 127,000 tons, according to Rosselkhoznadzor.
“Following a one-year interruption, the export of barley to Lebanon (9,000 tons) has resumed. The shipments were made from ports in the Rostov region” the agency reported on Thursday.
12 Million Tons Exported, Food Security Flourishes
