Russian province boosting exports to Africa

The Krasnodar Region is expanding its trade with countries including Egypt and Cote D’Ivoire, the deputy governor has said

The Krasnodar Region, one of Russia’s main agricultural hubs, continues to develop trade with Africa – which now accounts for 10% of goods shipped from the province, the local deputy governor has said.

“In 2023, the region engaged in trade with 37 African countries, with Egypt and Libya ranking among the top ten partners,” Alexander Ruppel told the newspaper Kommersant on Wednesday.

In the first quarter of 2024, Cote d’Ivoire joined the list of key African partners. “As a result, Africa now accounts for 10% of the Krasnodar Region’s total trade. For comparison, trade with Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries made up 11.5% last year,” Ruppel added.

Agriculture and minerals dominate exports from the region, accounting for 80% of the total, while the remaining 20% includes metals, machinery and chemicals.

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Russia increasing wheat exports to Africa

“Our region has traditionally ranked among the top three regions in terms of agricultural exports. It is encouraging that this involves not only grain, fruits, and vegetables but also processed goods. Ready-to-eat foods, groceries, confectionery, and health foods are also part of these exports,” the official said.

This year, approximately 70 companies from Krasnodar Region, located on the Black Sea, participated in international exhibitions in Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, India, Turkey, and other countries. Preliminary agreements were secured to export agricultural goods, confectionery, and dietary supplements to African nations including Egypt, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia, the deputy governor said.

The Center of Grain Quality Assurance has reported that wheat exports from Krasnodar Region to 25 African countries increased by 14.4% between January and September 2024, totaling 14.8 million tons.

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The top five African importers of Russian wheat during the period were Egypt (6.8 million tons), Algeria (1.3 million tons), Kenya (1.2 million tons), Libya (1.0 million tons), and Sudan (0.6 million tons). Shipments to Gambia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia also resumed this year, reflecting strong demand for Russian grain across the continent.