Russia’s agricultural exports to Africa surged by 19% in 2024, reaching over $7 billion in value, according to Agroexport, a Russian federal trade center. The increase underscores Moscow’s deepening food trade ties with the continent amid rising demand for grains and food staples.
Russian agricultural products were shipped to 45 African countries, with Egypt remaining the top importer. Exports to Egypt alone grew by 21%, driven primarily by wheat, sunflower oil, legumes, flax seeds, molasses, and other goods.
The top five African importers of Russian food in 2024 also included Algeria, Libya, Kenya, and Tunisia.
Grains—mainly wheat, barley, and corn—accounted for 87% of total agricultural exports to Africa. Other key exports included oils and fats, meat, fish, and increasingly, dairy products.
According to Igor Pavensky, head of agricultural market analysis at Rusagrotrans, Africa’s share of Russia’s wheat exports hit a record 38% during the 2023/2024 season, amounting to 21.2 million tonnes. He added that African countries already make up over 50% of Russian wheat exports in the current season.
Experts link the growing demand to Africa’s population boom and increased food consumption, as the continent’s population continues to grow at 2.3% annually—significantly faster than the global average.
