Russia Massively Increases Sunflower Oil Exports To Singapore

Russia supplied approximately 11,400 tonnes of sunflower oil to Singapore in January-April 2025, according to the Russian Agroexport Federal Centre, who stated that “Compared to the largest supply volume recorded for the entire year of 2020, exports have increased more than 11-fold. Previously, imports to Singapore were negligible and did not exceed 1,000 tonnes per year.”

Russia also supplied sugar-free water (over 900 tonnes), sweetened water (over 40 tonnes), grain and other agricultural products to Singapore this year. Shipments of Russian agricultural products totalled just over 1,300 tonnes for the full year 2024.

“The current volumes of sunflower oil exports to Singapore are far from the limit. Russia has every opportunity to further increase supplies and strengthen its position in this relatively new and promising market,” Agroexport said.

Singapore has followed the Western lead since 2022 in imposing sanctions upon Russia, but these now appear to be easing. Previously, the Singapore government had been involved with negotiations to enter into a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, with final stages having been reached before the FTA negotiations were suspended. It is possible, especially in the event of a resolution regarding Ukraine that an FTA could be back on the agenda. Singapore is a small, but wealthy city-state and it needs export markets to continue its economic development. The two countries have held discussions this year concerning the normalisation of trade ties.