Russia has strong potential to expand halal product exports — Agriculture Ministry

Lead

Russian officials used this week's KazanForum to spotlight the country's growing halal export sector, reporting a sharp increase in shipments over the past five years while acknowledging a heavy reliance on a single market. In a separate development, a business agreement signed in Abu Dhabi aims to widen the presence of Russian food products in the United Arab Emirates.

Coverage comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, provided the only coverage of these developments, filing reports from both the KazanForum in Kazan and the 'Make it in the Emirates' forum in Abu Dhabi. The agency's reports from Kazan carried statements from two Russian officials — the head of the federal center Agroexport, Ilya Ilyushin, and Deputy Agriculture Minister Maxim Markovich — each offering a slightly different emphasis on the state of the halal export trade.

Ilyushin focused on the statistical growth and the structural risk that comes with it, noting that while exports have climbed substantially, the concentration of buyers in Saudi Arabia leaves Russia exposed. Markovich took a more forward-looking tone, stressing the potential for expansion given the size of the global halal market.

A third TASS report covered a separate bilateral initiative: an agreement between the Russian-Emirates Business Council (REBC) and the UAE Food Cluster, signed during the Abu Dhabi forum, aimed at boosting Russian goods in the Emirates.

Key claims

Halal export growth and market concentration

According to Ilyushin, Russia increased its halal product exports by 86% over the past five years, reaching $388 million by the end of 2025. He said the main export categories were meat and meat by-products, with poultry meat exports totaling $252 million and total halal meat product exports exceeding $360 million in 2025.

The leading importers were Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran, which together accounted for more than 90% of total Russian halal exports in 2025. Ilyushin cautioned that Saudi Arabia alone took 76% of food supplies certified under halal standards, a situation he said "makes us dependent on a single market and requires export diversification through the active development of new destinations."

Strategic potential and global demand

Deputy Minister Markovich echoed the need to diversify, saying Russia has "significant prospects for increasing the volume of Russian halal product exports and diversifying sales markets." He described expanding halal food exports as "one of the strategic areas for the development of the Russian agro-industrial complex."

Markovich put the value of Russian halal exports at nearly $400 million by the end of 2025, with supplies covering about 20 countries. Key importers, he said, were Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran. He cited expert estimates putting global demand for halal products at more than $1.4 trillion annually, with the figure expected to reach about $2 trillion by 2028, giving Russia, in his words, "great potential for developing our cooperation."

UAE market access agreement

A separate agreement between the REBC and the UAE Food Cluster was signed during the "Make it in the Emirates" annual forum in Abu Dhabi, held May 4-7. The REBC told TASS the agreement is "aimed at promoting bilateral partnership in the food industry sphere, expanding investment interaction and establishing sustainable supply chains focusing on markets of Russia, the UAE and third countries."

The council noted that products of about fifteen UAE manufacturers, including confectionery, dried fruits, and cosmetics, are already present in Russian retail chains through its cooperation. The new agreement, it said, "is called to expand this track and launch the systemic promotion of Russian goods in the UAE market."

Perspectives

The reporting from KazanForum offers two distinct official Russian viewpoints on the halal export sector. Ilyushin, representing the state agricultural export center Agroexport, presented the growth figures and explicitly warned of over-dependence on Saudi Arabia, framing diversification as a necessity. Markovich, speaking for the Agriculture Ministry, emphasized the upside, describing expanding halal exports as a strategic priority and highlighting the vast global demand as evidence of untapped potential. The REBC, a business body, provided a third perspective centered on practical trade facilitation, with its agreement with the UAE Food Cluster aimed at expanding market access.