Grain transshipment at Russian ports fell by more than 50% in 2025

In the first four months of 2025, cargo turnover at Russian seaports decreased by 5.4% compared to the same period in 2024, amounting to 280.7 million tons, the Association of Commercial Seaports reported. The largest drop was recorded in grain transshipment, the volume of which decreased by 52.7% to 12.1 million tons. In general, dry cargo transshipment decreased by 6%, while export cargoes decreased by 5.4%, and coastal cargoes by 17.5%.

The situation is particularly critical in the port of Novorossiysk, one of the key for wheat exports. According to the TBI / Logistic OS Group, from May 1 to 11, 2025, only 399.6 thousand tons were shipped through this port. tons of wheat – almost half as much as in the same period in 2024 (696.4 thousand tons). Terminals are half-empty, and trading activity is sharply reduced due to the economic unprofitability of exports. High domestic purchase prices, falling world prices for grain and export duties make grain exports unprofitable.

Traders are reducing purchases, which leads to ship downtime and disruption of logistics chains. Even demand from large importers such as Egypt, Turkey and Iran cannot compensate for the reduction in supplies. Russia is losing ground on the world market due to its inability to ensure competitive exports. It is expected that the industry will enter a period of systemic decline, and companies will record losses.

This situation creates serious challenges for the Russian agricultural sector. Without changes in the system of export duties, price stabilization and logistics modernization, the country risks losing its competitive advantages. Against the backdrop of global demand for grain, which remains stable, a decline in transshipment may lead to a redistribution of market shares in favor of other exporting countries, such as Ukraine or the European Union countries.

Tags: Russia, export, grain