China and Saudi Arabia sharply cut purchases of Russian poultry meat

Russia’s poultry meat exports fell by 28.9% year-on-year to 223.5 thsd tons in January–September 2026. The decline was primarily driven by a sharp reduction in shipments to key export markets, particularly China and Saudi Arabia. According to Kommersant, the figures are based on estimates provided by market participants.

The steepest decline was recorded in shipments to China, which remains one of the largest buyers of Russian poultry products. During the first nine months of the year, exports to China nearly halved to 60.9 thsd tons. Saudi Arabia reduced its purchases by a factor of 2.7 to 22.5 thsd tons. Meanwhile, shipments to Uzbekistan, one of Russia’s main export destinations in Central Asia, declined by 29% to 11.7 thsd tons.

Russian exporters have faced additional difficulties due to tighter import controls imposed by China. According to industry representatives, Chinese authorities have suspended the accreditation of several Russian suppliers and increased laboratory inspections of imported poultry products. Against this backdrop, Russia is reportedly considering similar restrictions on poultry imports from China. Meanwhile, market participants partly attribute the decline in shipments to Saudi Arabia to financial difficulties at one of Russia’s largest poultry producers, which has been struggling with rising costs and a heavy debt burden.

Despite the overall decline in exports, Russian companies managed to increase shipments to several markets in Africa and Asia. Poultry meat exports to Ghana more than doubled from 4.2 thsd tons to 9.1 thsd tons, while shipments to Benin rose from 5.6 thsd tons to 8.9 thsd tons. Exports to the Republic of the Congo and Vietnam also increased. However, these markets have so far been unable to offset losses in Russia’s main export destinations. Combined shipments to countries outside the top 10 buyers declined from 41.4 thsd tons to 31.6 thsd tons.

The current situation poses additional risks to Russia’s plans to expand poultry exports. The Russian agricultural export agency Agroexport previously projected that annual poultry meat shipments could reach 700 thsd tons worth approximately $1.5 bln by 2030. However, the sharp decline in purchases by China and Saudi Arabia, tighter import inspections, and financial difficulties faced by some producers could make these targets increasingly difficult to achieve.

Tags: China, Saudi Arabia, poultry meat