Russia’s Q1 2025 Wheat Exports To Africa Increase To 11.8 Million Tons

Russia’s wheat exports to Africa surged in the Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, with exports of raw grain and its processed products totalling 11.8 million tons between January 1 and April 6.

Wheat exports to Nigeria increased fourfold to 210,000 tons, Tunisia’s imports of Russian wheats grew by 78% to 191,000 tons, Morocco’s accelerated by 72% to 147,000 tons, and Mozambique’s rose twelvefold to 74,000 tons. Wheat has also started to be delivered to Senegal and Togo, with barley being delivered to Libya.

Russia’s grain exports to Africa have seen significant growth in recent years. Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a 50% increase in agricultural exports by 2030 compared to 2021 levels, which totalled US$37 billion. Last month, Moscow’s Ministry of Agriculture reported that Russian food exports to African countries exceeded $7 billion in 2024, up 19% from 2023.

According to the ministry’s Agroexport center, domestic food products were supplied to 45 countries on the continent, with Egypt remaining the top importer. Egypt’s imports of Russian goods, including wheat, sunflower and soybean oil, legumes, flax seeds, molasses, and yeast, grew by 21% in value terms, the department stated.

Algeria ranked second in terms of Russian food imports, followed by Libya, Kenya, and Tunisia, Agroexport data shows. Cereals – mainly wheat, barley, and corn – accounted for 87% of all food shipments to the continent. Dairy product exports also saw significant growth last year. Russia also surpassed France as Morocco’s top grain supplier last year.