Deliveries reached 1.4 million tons by late May making it one of Russias key African grain markets, Agroexport has reported

Russian wheat exports to Kenya have climbed 10% year-on-year this season, the Russian agriculture export agency Agroexport reported on Monday.

According to the agency, shipments reached around 1.4 million tons by late May, already surpassing the roughly 1.3 million tons delivered during the entire previous season. The current figure is second only to the record 1.7 million tons shipped in the 2023/24 season.

"Kenya remains one of the key markets for Russian wheat suppliers in Africa," accounting for about 7% of the country's grain exports to the continent, the agency reported.

The figures come amid broader growth in Russia's agricultural trade with Africa. Last week, Agroexport adviser Alexander Yakuba said Russian agricultural exports to African countries have increased by 22% over the past five years, exceeding $5 billion in 2025.

While grain remains the backbone of supplies, exports of higher-value products have more than doubled, including animal feed, yeast, soft drinks, tea and coffee concentrates, and molasses. According to Agroexport estimates, Russia's agricultural exports to Africa could surpass $7.5 billion by 2030, driven by shipments of grain, vegetable oils, livestock products, processed foods, and fish.

Russian wheat exports to Egypt rose 19% this year, while supplies to Sudan jumped 78%. Shipments to Cameroon reached 137,000 tons worth $32 million in 2025, up 3.2 times year-on-year, while exports in the first four months of 2026 totaled 93,000 tons valued at more than $20.5 million, according to the agency.

Separately, analysts at railway operator Rusagrotrans have told Interfax that the leading importers of Russian wheat are the MENA countries, "where it is difficult to compete with Russia due to its logistical proximity to these markets."

In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that 81 Russian regions are now cooperating with African partners, with Moscow, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Novosibirsk, Leningrad Region, Krasnodar Territory and Perm Territory among the most active participants.

(RT.com)