Russia Exported 83.5 Million Tonnes of Grain in 2024, Up 4%, as China Enters Top Five Buyers

Russia exported 83.5 million tonnes of grain and grain products in 2024, a 4% increase on the previous year, according to data from the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) based on the Argus-Phyto information system as of 15 December 2024, Interfax reported on 6 January 2025.

Geography of exports

The main buyers of Russian grain remained countries of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The strongest growth in purchases was recorded from Vietnam, Nigeria, Morocco, Sri Lanka and a number of other countries. In 2024, exports were resumed to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Palestine and Sierra Leone, which had not purchased Russian grain in previous years.

• Total grain and grain product exports in 2024: 83.5 million tonnes (+4% year on year)
• China entered the top five buyers of Russian grain for the first time
• Spring wheat exports to China doubled
• Barley exports to China rose 43%
• China became the largest importer of Russian oats (+23%)
• Flour exports grew to nearly $300 million
• Access to the Chinese market was secured for Russian semolina and rye flour
• Export resumed to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Palestine and Sierra Leone

The China factor

The entry of China into the top five buyers of Russian grain marked a significant shift in the geography of exports. Over the year, the competent authorities of the two countries completed multi-year work to grant access to the Chinese market for Russian semolina and rye flour. The doubling of spring wheat shipments and the 43% increase in barley exports indicate that China is becoming a stable and growing market for Russian grain, complementing the traditional buyers in the Middle East and North Africa.

Context

Russia has remained the world's largest wheat exporter for several consecutive years. The growth in exports in 2024 was supported by a strong harvest, competitive pricing on global markets and the expansion of logistics infrastructure, including new grain terminals on the Black Sea and in the Far East. Grain exports have become one of the key items of non-commodity Russian exports and an important tool of food diplomacy in relations with countries of Africa and Asia. Russia's share of the global wheat market is estimated at approximately 20%, and the country's food security role continues to grow against the backdrop of climate change and population growth in importing regions.