Russian grain exports reached 50 MT in 2025, eyes higher exports next season
The export performance reflects Russia’s continued role as a key supplier to price-sensitive importing regions.
RUSSIA – Russia exported about 50 million metric tons of grain in 2025, including 41 million tons of wheat, maintaining its position as the world’s largest wheat exporter, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said at the World Grain and Pulses Forum in Dubai.
“In terms of grain exports, last year we reached 50 mln tons, including 41 mln tons of wheat, keeping our position as the world’s top wheat exporter. Based on our harvest of almost 140 mln tons, we expect next year’s grain exports at around 55 mln tons. This is our export potential. It is what we can hypothetically provide to supply our partners with grain,” Lut said.
The export performance reflects Russia’s continued role as a key supplier to price-sensitive importing regions, particularly Africa and the Middle East, which together account for the bulk of global wheat trade growth in recent years.
Russian wheat has remained competitive due to large harvest volumes, proximity to major importers via the Black Sea, and state-backed export infrastructure.
Lut noted that the geographic spread of Russian grain exports has remained largely unchanged over the past decade, with shipments reaching around 115 countries.
At present, Africa and the Middle East account for 78% of Russia’s wheat exports, underscoring the country’s strategic focus on these regions.
Many of these destinations are long-term buyers that have sourced Russian grain consistently over the past 10 years.
“We have earned respect and authority in the global market and do not plan to move away from this path,” the minister added.
Russia’s total grain harvest in 2025 stood at nearly 140 million tons, providing a solid base for export availability despite ongoing volatility in global agricultural markets.
Weather risks, logistics constraints, and geopolitical factors continue to influence trade flows, but Russia has largely managed to sustain export volumes through a combination of domestic stock management and export controls designed to stabilise local prices while supporting overseas sales.
Beyond wheat and traditional grains, Lut highlighted Russia’s recent progress in the global legumes market, an area that has gained importance as importers diversify protein sources and as crop rotations shift to improve soil health.
“A few years ago, we grew them only for our own needs. Over the past three years we have made a breakthrough, and last year we harvested 8 mln tons. Our export potential is still limited, but quite good. Last year we were able to supply the market with around 3 mln tons of legumes,” she said.
The expansion into legumes positions Russia to tap into growing demand from markets in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, where pulses are a dietary staple and an increasingly traded commodity.
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