Russia exports record volumes of wheat to several African countries in 2025-2026 season

Lead

Russia has reported substantial growth in its agricultural exports during the first half of 2026, with record wheat volumes shipped to several African countries and notable increases in dairy, ice cream, and overall grain exports. The data, released by Russian government agencies and reported by TASS, highlights a continued push into African and other global markets despite what one source described as a sharp rise in global market competition.

Coverage Comparison

All figures and statements in this article come from reporting by TASS, the Russian state news agency, which cited data from Russian government agencies including the federal Agroexport center, the agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, and the analytical center of the Rusagrotrans company. Each report focused on a specific commodity or region, and together they paint a picture of broad-based growth across Russia's agricultural export sector.

Key Claims

Record Wheat Exports to Africa

According to the federal Agroexport center, as reported by TASS, Russia exported record volumes of wheat to a number of African countries during the agricultural season that ended on June 30, 2026. Amid a surge in import demand, Russian exporters shipped a record 10 million metric tons of wheat to Egypt between July 2025 and June 2026, up 6% from the 2024-2025 season and 27% above the average for the past five years. Egypt remained the largest importer of Russian wheat both in Africa and globally, Agroexport emphasized.

Sudan also purchased a record volume of Russian wheat, with shipments totaling about 2.2 million metric tons—twice as much as in the previous season and double the five-year average. Russian exporters shipped around 6.7 million metric tons of wheat to Sub-Saharan Africa during the completed season, up 3% from the 2024/25 season and 34% above the five-season average. Record volumes were exported to Kenya (about 1.8 million metric tons, up 40% year-on-year), Tanzania (around 900,000 metric tons, up 17%), Uganda (500,000 metric tons, up 42%), Djibouti (more than 350,000 metric tons, up 43%), and Somalia (nearly 230,000 metric tons, up 33%).

Agroexport analysts noted that Africa remains one of the key markets for Russian wheat exports, with the bulk of supplies traditionally destined for North Africa. Over the past 10 seasons, the ratio has stood at approximately 70% to 30% in favor of North Africa. The federal center stressed that diversifying export destinations helps minimize fluctuations in demand from individual countries, and it expects the growing role of Sub-Saharan Africa to become a key driver of Russia's grain exports to the region.

Overall Wheat Export Growth

According to preliminary data from the analytical center of the Rusagrotrans company, as reported by TASS, Russia's total wheat exports for the 2025/26 agricultural season (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) reached 48 million tons, compared to 42.2 million tons in the previous season, representing an increase of 13.7%. The report noted that Russia increased wheat supplies to all top five importers despite a sharp rise in global market competition from other suppliers, including in regions critical to Russia such as the Middle East and North Africa. Specifically, 9.7 million tons were exported to Egypt, 7.4 million tons to Turkey, 2.3 million tons to Sudan, 2 million tons to Saudi Arabia, and 1.9 million tons to Kenya.

Grain and Processed Grain Products

According to the agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, as reported by TASS, Russia's exports of grain and processed grain products grew by 69% to over 36.1 million tons from the beginning of 2026 through July 10. The report highlighted increases in grain shipments to Turkey (by 86%), Egypt (by 45%), China (by 63%), Iran (by 75%), Kazakhstan (threefold), Sudan (twofold), Kenya (19-fold), and Azerbaijan, Uganda, and Mozambique (fourfold), as well as manifold increases to Brazil and South Africa.

Agricultural Exports to Africa

According to expert estimates from the federal Agroexport center, as reported by TASS, Russia's agricultural exports to Africa increased by 40% year-on-year in volume terms and by 35% in value terms in the first half of 2026, reaching more than 11 million metric tons worth about $2.9 billion. The top five agricultural export products by volume were wheat (about 10.2 million metric tons), barley (about 234,000 metric tons), soybean oil (more than 158,000 metric tons), sunflower seed meal and cake (more than 95,000 metric tons), and beet pulp with molasses (more than 64,000 metric tons).

Egypt remained the main destination for Russian agricultural exports, with shipments increasing from about 3.8 million metric tons in the first half of 2025 to 4.9 million metric tons in the same period of 2026, accounting for 44% of Russia's total agricultural exports to Africa by volume. Sudan ranked second among importers, accounting for 11% of exports, with shipments rising by 62% year-on-year in volume terms. Kenya ranked third, accounting for 10% of exports, with shipments increasing 9.5-fold. Algeria and Libya also ranked among the five largest buyers. Overall, Russia exported agricultural products to more than 40 African countries in 2026.

Dairy Exports

According to the Agroexport federal center, as reported by TASS, Russia's exports of dairy products increased by 14% in volume and 19% in value between January and May 2026, reaching over 104,000 tons worth more than $245 million. Cheese and cottage cheese accounted for over 28% of export revenue, followed by fermented milk products (23%), ice cream (15%), milk and cream (10%), milk powder (8%), and dry whey (8%). All key dairy categories showed positive growth trends in early 2026, with shipments of cheese and cottage cheese adding 6% to $70 million, fermented milk products growing by 12% to $55 million, ice cream deliveries going up by 21% to $38 million, liquid milk and cream supplies gaining 27% to $24 million, and milk powder and whey climbing by 54% and 50%, respectively, to $20 million each.

As last year, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan were the leading buyers of Russian dairy products in the first half of this year. Shipments to Kazakhstan rose by 0.3% between January and May to $92 million, accounting for more than one-third of all Russian dairy exports. Deliveries to Belarus increased by 25% year-on-year to over $40 million, driven by ice cream (up 49%), fermented milk products (up 42%), and whey (up 36%). Shipments to Uzbekistan grew by 58% to $27 million, with ice cream and milk powder more than doubling and whey shipments increasing 1.8-fold. In total, Russia supplied dairy products to more than 65 countries in the period. Exports grew 1.9-fold year-on-year to the UAE, twofold to Egypt, 2.3-fold to Algeria, and tenfold to Tunisia.

Ice Cream Exports

According to the federal Agroexport center, as reported by TASS, Russia increased its ice cream exports by 27% in volume terms and 18% in value terms in the first half of 2026, reaching about 10,000 metric tons worth approximately $43 million. The top five importing countries during the period were Kazakhstan (more than $12 million), Uzbekistan (more than $9.5 million), Belarus (about $8 million), Mongolia (more than $3 million), and Abkhazia (about $2.5 million). Overall, Russia exported ice cream to more than 50 countries worldwide in 2026, with Agroexport highlighting Senegal, Ecuador, India, and the United Arab Emirates among the more non-traditional buyers.