Русский
Russia has resumed exporting barley to Tunisia this year, after no barley exports occurred in 2025. About 55,000 tonnes of barley worth nearly US$13 million were shipped to Tunisia in January and February this year, according to the Russian Agroexport Federal Center.
Previous shipments date back to 2024. That year, a total of 365,000 tonnes worth more than US$64 million were exported. Russia also exported more than 470,000 tonnes of barley overseas in January-February 2026—not including the main Eurasian Economic Union exports.
Tunisia typically imports barley from the European Union (Romania, France, and Germany) as well as Ukraine; however, rising production costs have made Russian barley a more attractive proposition. Tunisia recently purchased 25,000 tonnes of barley at €277 per tonne, while in Russia the same delivered commodity can be purchased for the equivalent of €257 per tonne. That represents a saving of about €1 million based on the 55,000 tonnes imported from Russia the past two months.
Russia is also negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with Tunisia via the Eurasian Economic Union, in moves that would likely decrease Tunisian import duties on Russian agricultural products.
With EU fuel prices significantly increasing due to the Iran war, Russia looks set to increase its cost-competitive differential over European agricultural exports still further as the year progresses.
