Russia’s record pea harvest was the biggest disappointment of the year

In 2025, Russia is expected to harvest a record pea crop — from 5.27 to 5.4 million tons compared to 3.8 million tons last year. The increase in production is ensured by higher yields, although the sown area has decreased. However, the record production turned out to be a problem for farmers, not a joy. Domestic consumption of peas in Russia remains low, as the processing of legumes is poorly developed, so most of the crop has to be exported as raw material. However, high competition on the world market and the not always high quality of Russian grain limit sales opportunities.

According to the results of the first nine months of 2025, the main buyers of Russian peas remain China, India and Pakistan, which account for more than three quarters of exports. Experts warn that due to the record supply in the world, pea prices may begin to decline in the near future. This will make the crop one of the least profitable this season.

Analysts note that most pea producers are small farms that can quickly reduce crops if profitability falls. However, according to market estimates, even a change in the structure of production will not save farmers from an overall decline in profitability, as margins on many crops remain minimal this year.

Tags: Russia, pea