Russian 2025 Exports Of Soybean Oil To South Korea Up 3.2 Times

Russia boosted exports of soybean oil to South Korea 3.2-fold year-on-year to 5,500 tonnes in 2025 from 1,700 tonnes in 2024, setting an all-time high figure for supplies that began to this market in 2017, South Korea’s customs service has said. The value of shipments increased to US$6.4 million from US$1.8 million in 2024.

Russia has only recently begun actively developing soybean and soybean oil production and is still far behind the major players on the South Korean market. Vietnam exported 167,800 tonnes of soybean oil to the country worth US$195.7 million in 2025, the United States shipped 84,700 tonnes worth US$98.3 million, and China delivered 83,500 tonnes worth US$98.6 million.

Preliminary data from Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) indicate that the country’s soybean harvest totaled a record 8.96 million tonnes in 2025 versus 7.06 million tonnes in 2024. Farmers in European Russia, with large processing facilities having been commissioned in recent years, have also begun actively cultivating the crop in addition to the Far East. They will continue to develop export markets in Asia due to price competitiveness and lower delivery costs.

The average price per tonne of soybean oil in the United States is currently US US$1,168. In Russia it can be purchased for US$1,060, a considerable saving when buying tens of thousands of tonnes. Delivery costs are also much lower.

Soybean oil is a versatile cooking staple for frying, baking, and dressings due to its mild flavor and high smoke point, often labelled as “vegetable oil.” Beyond the kitchen, it’s used in biofuels, paints (soy ink), soaps, and as a carrier oil for essential oils or in parenteral nutrition. Its applications extend to skin/hair care for moisturizing, and it provides essential fatty acids, acting as a source of vitamin E and antioxidants.