Russia plans to buy up to 3 mln tons of grain for state reserves amid export problems

Russia plans to resume state grain purchases amid difficulties with sales and restrictions on export logistics. Purchase interventions are expected to take place in 2026–2027, with the total volume potentially reaching up to 3 mln tons.

The state fund plans to buy soft wheat grades 3–4 and rye. Actual annual purchase volumes will depend on market conditions and available financing.

Preparations for the interventions have already started. The United Grain Company is selecting storage facilities for future stocks in 14 Russian regions.

The state intervention fund currently holds about 3.7 mln tons of grain, including more than 3.6 mln tons of milling wheat. The stocks are stored at 147 specialized facilities across 22 regions.

The intervention purchase mechanism involves the state buying grain from the market to support prices and producers during periods of oversupply or weak demand. The last such purchases in Russia were conducted in the first half of 2024.

At the same time, market participants previously estimated that at least 10 mln tons of intervention purchases would be needed to stabilize prices. Therefore, the planned purchases of up to 3 mln tons may have only a limited impact on the domestic market.

Tags: grain, logistics, export