The export of Russian agricultural products amounted to more than 20 billion dollars by early October, and this year is expected to reach a record sum of 27 billion.
Wheat remains traditionally the most popular Russian export product. This was stated by Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin and members of the Russian government, according to Agroinvestor.ru
At the same time, the minister reported that Russian exporters gained access to the markets of 14 additional countries this year. Agricultural products are now supplied to 160 countries in the Middle East, East and South Asia, Africa, the European Union, and former Soviet republics.
The largest buyers of Russian agricultural products were China ($2.9 billion), the EU ($2.3 billion), and Turkey ($2.25 billion). The top 10 agricultural products that Russia supplies to the world market are sunflower, poultry, soybeans, corn, pork, soybean oil, and barley.
At the same time, the supply of poultry meat doubled this year compared to January–July last year to $259 million, and pork increased 2.5 times to $173 million.
According to the Agroexport Center of the ministry, grain traditionally leads the export structure: this year shipments amounted to $6.7 billion. The head of the analytical center Rusagrotrans, Igor Pavensky, told Agroinvestor earlier that Russia is currently achieving a record pace of grain exports: as of October 8, 15.3 million tons had been shipped, which is 1.3 million tons more than last year.
According to Pavensky, this level was last reached two years ago. Wheat exports were a record — they amounted to 13 million tons, last year this figure reached 12.3 million tons. Barley exports rose 1.5 times compared to the same period of the previous season to 1.9 million tons.