South Korea increases imports of Russian wheat, corn, cuts barely imports in 2025

MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - South Korea tripled wheat imports from Russia to 202,700 tonnes in 2025, compared with 67,750 tonnes in 2024, the Korea Customs Service reported.

The value of the imports grew to $51.1 million from $17.9 million.

Imports of Russian corn increased to 323,700 tonnes for $85.28 million last year, compared with 227,650 tonnes for $60.98 million in 2024.

Russian barley imports fell by almost 80% to 3,730 tonnes from 15,170 tonnes in 2024. Russia's revenue from these sales fell to $924,000 from $3.76 million respectively.

Last year overall, South Korea purchased 531,160 tonnes of grain products from Russia, versus 311,340 tonnes in 2024.

Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor told Interfax that "there are no restrictions on exporting grain products from Russia to the Republic of Korea". Data from the Argus-Fito information system are practically the same as those from the Korea Customs Service.

According to customs data, Russia imported 80 tonnes of rice for $157,000 in 2025, up from 50.1 tonnes for $72,000 in 2024.