In 2024, Russia increased exports of many food products, but also increased import volumes in a number of categories

Despite the growth in logistics costs and restrictions on financial transactions with foreign partners, according to the Federal Customs Service, in 2024 the total volume of Russian exports in value terms increased by 0.5% and amounted to $278 billion. It was based on mineral products (oil, gas and their derivatives), metals and products made from them, as well as agricultural raw materials and food products, which accounted for about 10% of the total volume of supplies.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, following the results of the past year, Russian producers increased the volume of exports of many food products. For example, the supply of meat and meat products abroad increased by 1.3 times compared to 2023 - from 649.8 to 829 thousand tons. In particular, the export increased:

// poultry meat and edible by-products by 1.2 times (from 309 to 381.9 thousand tons),
// pork by 1.4 times (from 158.3 to 220.5 thousand tons),
// food by-products of cattle, small cattle, and pigs by 1.4 times (from 48.9 to 67.4 thousand tons),
// beef by 1.3 times (from 31.2 to more than 40.5 thousand tons).

In addition, export deliveries of dairy products increased by 1.2 times - from 166.1 to 195.6 thousand tons. Exports increased:

// cheese - from 19.7 to 26.5 thousand tons,
// fermented milk products (buttermilk, yogurt, kefir, sour cream) - from 54.3 to 73.9 thousand tons.

Also in 2024, Russia maintained high rates of grain and processed grain exports, despite unfavorable weather conditions in a number of regions of the country and concerns about a decrease in harvest. The total volume of export deliveries increased by 2.8 million tons compared to 2023 and exceeded 86.7 million tons. Most of the exports were grain crops - 73.1 million tons, which is 4 million tons more than in 2023. Traditionally, the main export products among grain crops were:

// wheat - 57.5 million tons,
// barley - 8.2 million tons,
// corn - 6.7 million tons.

In 2024, Russia also increased the volume of exports of fruit and vegetable products. As of mid-December 2024, export deliveries of the main types of vegetable crops amounted to 438.9 thousand tons. Of these, the following were exported:

// potatoes - 267.3 thousand tons,
// onions and garlic - 70.9 thousand tons,
// root crops - 36.1 thousand tons,
// cucumbers - 25.7 thousand tons,
// tomatoes - 12.9 thousand tons,
// cabbage - 10.7 thousand tons.

However, not all product categories saw an increase in exports in 2024. The volume of fish and seafood exports from Russia decreased by 25% (from 2.08 to 1.57 million tons), as well as mutton by 25% (from 10 to 7.6 thousand tons), and horse meat by 12% (from 1.9 to 1.7 thousand tons).

The geography of export deliveries did not undergo any significant changes last year, and the reorientation to the markets of Asia, the Middle East and the CIS countries that began several years ago continued. The main importers of Russian poultry meat and edible by-products were China (151.6 thousand tons) and Saudi Arabia (78.3 thousand tons), pork - Belarus (99 thousand tons), Vietnam (45.4 thousand tons) and China (21.2 thousand tons), beef - China (17.5 thousand tons), Belarus (5.9 thousand tons) and Saudi Arabia (4.8 thousand tons). The main buyers of Russian dairy products are still Kazakhstan and Belarus. According to Artem Daushev, assistant to the head of Rosselkhoznadzor, the number of countries importing livestock products from Russia has currently exceeded 100. Among the new markets that opened for Russia in 2024 were Syria, India, the UAE, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Thailand, Egypt, Mexico, Hong Kong, Burkino Faso, Algeria, Djibouti and Macau.

The number of countries importing grain products from Russia also increased — from 101 in 2023 to 117 in 2024. The largest growth in the volume of purchases of Russian grain was demonstrated by Sri Lanka, Morocco, India, Vietnam, Syria and Nigeria. In addition, in 2024, grain supplies from Russia to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Palestine and Sierra Leone resumed.

As for imported food products, their share on the shelves of retail chains has sharply decreased in 2024. According to the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT), at the moment the share of Russian food products ranges from 80% to 99% depending on the category.

However, Russia continues to import certain food products. For example, fruit and vegetable products, which are not grown in the country due to climate conditions, are supplied mainly from the EAEU member states, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, China, Vietnam, Ecuador, South Africa, Serbia and Argentina.

Moreover, for a number of food categories, import volumes even increased in 2024. For example, compared to 2023, the import of meat and meat products increased by 1.2 times - from 586.2 to 709 thousand tons. 50% of imported livestock products came to Russia from Belarus. In 2024, 350 thousand tons of various types of meat were imported from the Republic of Belarus, and a year earlier - 304.3 thousand tons. Imports of dairy products also increased. If in 2023 892.7 thousand tons were imported to Russia, then in 2024 - 1 million tons, of which 952.9 thousand tons were imported from Belarus.

In 2025, difficulties related to payment under trade contracts and the destruction of international logistics chains will remain. Nevertheless, experts believe that the export of Russian goods will continue to grow due to further expansion of presence in the markets of Asia, the Middle East and the CIS. But imports may also increase if geopolitical factors and domestic trends change.