Russian grain sold to 126 countries in 2022 - Rosselkhoznadzor

MOSCOW. Dec 29 (Interfax) - Russian grain and products of its processing have been purchased by 126 countries in 2022, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) said.

According to the phytosanitary certificates issued, grain exports since the beginning of the year exceed those of 2021 by 3%.

"The geographical spread of exports has not undergone significant changes. The predominant buyers of Russian grain are, as previously, countries of the Middle East at 39%, Africa at 20%, Asia at 31%, and the European Union at 7%," Rosselkhoznadzor said.

Shipments of Russian grain products to the Eurasian Economic Union have risen substantially by 1.6-fold, including by 72% to Belarus, 55% to Kazakhstan, 64% to Kyrgyzstan, and 49% to Armenia.

Export of the products of grain processing has risen 69% to 1.3 million tonnes predominantly due to wheat flour exports rising threefold to 722,000 tonnes, while exports of Russian groats have risen 37% to 163,000 tonnes, Rosselkhoznadzor said.

The most significant event of 2022 has been expansion of trade in cereal crops with China, Rosselkhoznadzor said. Agreements to the protocols on wheat and barley which allow export of these crops from all regions of Russia were signed with the Chinese General Administration of Customs in February. Only spring wheat and barley are currently allowed on the Chinese market. Rosselkhoznadzor has initiated the procedure to allow winter wheat and barley.

Russia received the right to export peas to China in October, with 110 enterprises currently approved to supply the Chinese market.

Venezuela is also interested in Russian peas, and two batches of more than 60,000 tonnes have already been shipped to its market.

India has permitted import of trial batches of Russian lentils until June 30, 2024 and will make a decision on opening the market for regular supplies based on the results of laboratory testing.

The possibility of easing requirements for wheat as concerns corn bug damage is being coordinated with Saudi Arabia.