How Russia Became a Global Leader in Agricultural Exports
Russia is not only the largest country in the world by land area, but also one of the most fertile and productive. With a vast territory that spans from Europe to Asia, Russia has a diverse climate and natural resources that allow it to grow and export a variety of agricultural products. In 2021, Russia earned a record $37.7 billion from food exports, surpassing its previous record of $30.5 billion in 2020. Russia is now a net exporter of food, meaning that it sells more food abroad than it imports. This is a remarkable achievement for a country that used to rely on food imports to feed its population.
Main Agricultural Products Exported by Russia
What are the main agricultural products that Russia exports? According to the latest statistics from AgroExport, a federal institute that monitors agricultural trade, cereals and legumes were the most exported commodity from Russia in 2021, amounting to over $11.4 billion. Russia is the world’s largest producer of barley and the third-largest producer of wheat. It is also the largest exporter of wheat, accounting for about 20% of the global market share. Wheat is a staple crop that is used for making bread, pasta, noodles, and other foods. Wheat is also used as animal feed and for biofuel production.
Another important commodity that Russia exports is fats and oils, which include sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, and palm oil. Fats and oils are used for cooking, baking, frying, and as ingredients in various food products. They are also used for making cosmetics, soap, detergents, and biodiesel. In 2021, Russia exported nearly $7.3 billion worth of fats and oils. Russia is the second-largest producer of sunflower seeds in the world, after Ukraine. Sunflower oil is the most popular vegetable oil in Russia and many other countries. It has a high content of vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, which are beneficial for human health.
Russia also exports significant amounts of fish and seafood, meat and dairy products, fruits and vegetables, sugar and confectionery, alcoholic beverages, and other processed foods. These products are in high demand in many countries around the world, especially in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Some of the main markets for Russian food exports are the European Union ($4.7 billion), Turkey ($4.3 billion), China ($3.6 billion), Kazakhstan ($2.8 billion), and Belarus ($2.2 billion).
Factors Contributing to Russia’s Success in Agricultural Exports
What are the factors that contribute to Russia’s success in agricultural exports? One of the main factors is the availability of land and water resources. Russia has about 215 million hectares of arable land, which is about 13% of its total land area. This is more than any other country in the world except for India and China. Russia also has abundant freshwater resources, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater. These resources enable Russia to irrigate its crops and support its livestock.
Another factor is the improvement of agricultural technology and infrastructure. Over the past two decades, Russia has invested heavily in modernizing its agricultural sector, including upgrading its machinery, equipment, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, storage facilities, transportation networks, and quality control systems. These investments have increased the productivity, efficiency, quality, and safety of Russian agriculture. They have also reduced the dependence on imports of agricultural inputs and increased the competitiveness of Russian products in the global market.
A third factor is the government support and regulation of agriculture. The Russian government provides various forms of support to its farmers, such as subsidies, loans, insurance, tax breaks, price guarantees, export incentives, and market access. The government also regulates the domestic market by imposing quotas, tariffs, taxes, and bans on certain imports to protect domestic producers from foreign competition and stabilize prices for consumers. The government also promotes food security by ensuring adequate supply and distribution of food within the country.
A fourth factor is the consumer demand and preference for Russian food products. Many consumers around the world prefer Russian food products because they are perceived as natural, organic, healthy, tasty, diverse, and affordable. Russian food products also have a strong cultural identity and appeal to different ethnic groups and regions. For example, Russian wheat bread is popular in many countries because it is soft, fluffy, and nutritious. Russian sunflower oil is preferred by many consumers because it has a mild flavor and aroma. Russian caviar is considered a delicacy and a symbol of luxury by many people.
In conclusion, Russia has become a global leader in agricultural exports by leveraging its natural resources, improving its technology and infrastructure, receiving government support and regulation, and meeting consumer demand and preference. Russia’s agricultural sector is a vital source of income, employment, and food security for the country and a major contributor to the world food supply and trade.
Russian Agricultural Exports: Trends and Prospects
Russia is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of agricultural products, especially cereals, oilseeds, and fats and oils. According to Statista, the value of food and agricultural exports from Russia reached over 11.4 billion U.S. dollars for cereals and legumes, and nearly 7.3 billion U.S. dollars for fats and oils in 2021. These commodities accounted for more than half of the total value of agricultural exports from Russia in that year.
Cereals: Wheat Leads the Way
The main cereal exported by Russia is wheat, which is also the most consumed and produced cereal in the world. Russia ranked fourth by wheat production worldwide in the marketing year 2020/21, with an output of 85.3 million metric tons. The country also ranked first by wheat export volume in the same period, with 37.6 million metric tons shipped abroad. The main destinations for Russian wheat exports are Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.
The demand for wheat is expected to grow in the coming years, driven by population growth, income growth, urbanization, and changing dietary preferences in developing countries. Russia has a competitive advantage in wheat production and export, thanks to its vast land area, favorable climatic conditions, low production costs, and proximity to major markets. The country aims to increase its wheat output to 100 million metric tons by 2030.
Oilseeds: Sunflower Oil Dominates the Market
The main oilseed exported by Russia is sunflower seed, which is used to produce sunflower oil, one of the most widely consumed vegetable oils in the world. Russia is the largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, accounting for 28.6% of global exports in 2020. The country exported 3.2 million metric tons of sunflower oil in 2021, worth 3.8 billion U.S. dollars. The main destinations for Russian sunflower oil exports are China, India, Turkey, and Iran.
The demand for sunflower oil is expected to increase in the future, driven by its health benefits, low price, and versatility. Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, which can lower cholesterol levels, prevent cardiovascular diseases, and improve skin health. Sunflower oil is also cheaper than other vegetable oils, such as olive oil or rapeseed oil, and can be used for cooking, frying, baking, salad dressing, and cosmetics. Russia has a competitive advantage in sunflower oil production and export, thanks to its abundant sunflower seed resources, advanced processing technology, and strong market position.
Fats and Oils: Butter Makes a Comeback
The main fat exported by Russia is butter, which is a dairy product made from milk or cream. Butter is one of the oldest and most popular fats in the world, used for spreading, baking, cooking, and flavoring. Russia is the fifth-largest producer and exporter of butter in the world. The country exported 215 thousand metric tons of butter in 2021, worth 1.2 billion U.S. dollars. The main destinations for Russian butter exports are Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
The demand for butter is expected to increase in the future, driven by its naturalness, taste, and nutritional value. Butter is a natural product that contains only milk fat and water, without any additives or preservatives. Butter has a rich and creamy taste that enhances the flavor of other foods. Butter also contains vitamins A, D, E, K2, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, iodine, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which can boost immunity, bone health, antioxidant activity, and metabolism. Russia has a competitive advantage in butter production and export, thanks to its large dairy herd, high-quality milk, and traditional butter-making skills.
Russia is a major player in the global agricultural market, with a strong export performance in cereals, oilseeds, and fats and oils. The country has a potential to increase its production and export of these commodities in the future, as the demand for them is expected to grow in the world. Russia can leverage its natural resources, technological innovation, and market access to enhance its competitiveness and profitability in the agricultural sector.
References:
http://istmat.info/files/uploads/26109/sh_sssr_1960_osnovnye_pokazateli.pdf
http://istmat.info/files/uploads/26167/sh_sssr_1988_rastenievodstvo.pdf
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1071654/food-and-agricultural-exports-from-russia-by-type/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/271898/wheat-consumption-worldwide-by-country/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1071655/wheat-export-volume-in-russia/
https://www.reuters.com/article/russia-wheat-idUSL8N2LZ3QI
https://www.statista.com/statistics/263978/sunflower-oil-exports-worldwide-by-country/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/263974/butter-production-worldwide-by-country/
https://www.statista.com/topics/6923/agriculture-in-russia/
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