Growing demand for Russian grain in Africa – export union

Increasing interest is reportedly being driven by competitive pricing and high quality

African nations are showing increasing interest in Russian grain due to its quality and competitive pricing, Eduard Zernin, chairman of the Russian Union of Grain Exporters, has said.  

Speaking to TASS on Friday, Zernin highlighted that the combined grain market capacity of the Middle East and Africa is approximately 170 million tons annually, with this figure expected to rise due to Africa’s rapidly growing population and challenging climatic conditions for local grain production. 

“In the current 2024-25 season, [Russian] exports to Morocco and Nigeria have already increased significantly. Kenya, which is already one of the main importers of Russian grain, is also expanding its volumes,” Zernin reported.  

He noted that global grain exporters, including Russia, the EU, Argentina, Canada, Australia, and the US, are actively competing in the African market. Zernin identified the EU as Russia’s primary competitor but predicted a decline in the bloc’s competitiveness due to regulatory inefficiencies and climate-related challenges. 

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The Russian Center of Grain Quality Assurance has reported that wheat exports from Krasnodar Region, one of the country’s main agricultural hubs, to 25 African nations increased by 14.4% between January and September 2024, totaling 14.8 million tons. 

The top five African importers of Russian wheat during the period were Egypt (6.8 million tons), Algeria (1.3 million tons), Kenya (1.2 million tons), Libya (1.0 million tons), and Sudan (0.6 million tons). Shipments to Gambia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia also resumed this year, reflecting strong demand for Russian grain across the continent. 

In May, Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut announced plans to increase grain exports to over $55 billion by 2030, with farmers expected to boost production by 25% within six years to meet targets. She emphasized a shift in focus toward North African markets, where Russia became Morocco’s top wheat supplier in May, surpassing France for the first time since 2019. Morocco imported over 61,800 tons of Russian wheat that month, accounting for 26% of its total wheat imports.  

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a 50% increase in agricultural exports by 2030 compared to 2021 levels, which totaled $37 billion. 

READ MORE: Russian province boosting exports to Africa

Russia donated 200,000 tons of wheat to six low-income African nations back in February as part of a large-scale humanitarian initiative.