Russia's Altai Territory sees exports of plant-based products fall 9% in 2024, shipments to China grow by third

BARNAUL. Jan 21 (Interfax) - Farmers in Altai Territory exported 2.26 million tonnes of plant-based products in 2024, down 9% compared to 2023, the Altai branch of the Grain Quality Assessment Center (part of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor) said.

"Altai's products were exported to 45 countries in 2024. Shipments increased to China, Mongolia, Belarus, Afghanistan and Armenia. The region established trade relations with Zimbabwe, Guinea, Bangladesh and the Central African Republic," the center said.

The geography of Altai Territory's flour exports expanded to 24 countries last year, with China, Mongolia and Afghanistan increasing purchases, it said. After a two-year hiatus, 1,300 tonnes of flour were exported to Burundi. In total, 105,100 tonnes of flour were shipped during the year, an increase of 7% compared to 2023. Exports of milk thistle and millet to Kazakhstan also resumed in 2024.

The past year was a record-breaking one for exports of grain, grain products, vegetable oils, fruit and vegetables, seed materials and fodder to China. In 2024, Altai Territory's farmers shipped a total of 1.22 million tonnes of products to China, up 34% year-on-year.

Exports of plant-based products from Altai to China increased across almost all product categories. In the grain category, 188,700 tonnes of buckwheat (up 1.87-fold), 24,300 tonnes of oats (up 1.59-fold), 30,600 tonnes of wheat (up six-fold), and 66,900 tonnes of barley (up 1.91-fold) were exported. Pea exports remained at the previous year's level, totaling 118,200 tonnes.

"Among grain processing products, flour remains the leader in export volume (42,200 tonnes, up 5%). China's interest in oats (19,000 tonnes, up 5.3-fold) as well as in cereal (12,000 tonnes, up 3.5-fold) and sunflower kernels (36,500 tonnes, up 44%) increased significantly. In the fodder category, the highest demand in China was for oilseed cakes (91,200 tonnes, up 2.7-fold), while meal was exported for the first time, totaling 2,100 tonnes," the center said.