Russia looks to the Far East and China as new grain export routes

Russia is expanding the use of alternative routes for grain exports amid disruptions to shipments through the Black Sea. New options include the Far East and transit through China for onward deliveries to Southeast Asian markets, Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said.

According to Lut, millions of tons of Russian grain are already being shipped through the Baltic and Caspian seas. Routes through Kazakhstan are also being used, with Astana not planning to restrict the transit of Russian agricultural products through its territory, she said.

Moscow is also developing the Far Eastern route, which has historically been used only to a limited extent for grain exports. Russia is discussing with China the possibility of transiting grain through Chinese territory for onward sales to Southeast Asia.

The need to diversify export routes reflects Russia’s high dependence on the Black Sea, which accounts for more than 70% of its grain shipments. Disruptions at ports and terminals in the Black Sea region have intensified during the peak period for new-crop exports.

At the same time, some alternative routes also face additional risks. Latvia is considering a 300% duty on Russian and Belarusian grain, while damage to one of the three grain terminals at Novorossiysk this week has added to concerns over the stability of Russian export logistics.

Tags: Russia, China, export, grain, grain export, Black Sea region