Russian agricultural exports to S. Arabia may top $1 bln in 2022 - Agroexport center

MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) - The export of Russian agricultural products to Saudi Arabia may exceed $1 billion this year, the Agroexport center said in a press release, citing data from the Russian Agriculture Ministry.

The press release is in conjunction with Russia's participation in the Saudi Agriculture 2022 international exhibition, the 39th such event, which took place last week.

Russian agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia reached $720 million in January-September 2022. These deliveries increased by 50% in the nine-month period, Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said when opening Russia's display at the exhibition.

Russia's key agricultural export is wheat, and its deliveries to foreign markets tripled to one million tonnes in January-September. There is also the capacity to increase the export of other goods from Russia such as barley, corn, poultry, beef, cheese, other dairy products, and confectionery products, Agroexport said.

According to the press release, Saudi Arabia is among the top ten importers of Russian agricultural products and Russia's strategic partner in the field of food supplies. Thanks to its developed port infrastructure, the kingdom may become a major logistical hub, facilitating deliveries of Russian food products to the markets of other countries in the region, the document said.

A total of 450 participants from 45 countries displayed their products at the Saudi Agriculture 2022 exhibition. Russia's national display was the largest in the exhibition's history and covered 1,188 square meters. It included items from more than 55 major producers and exporters.