Rostselmash wants to compensate for loss of some markets with export to Africa, Kazakhstan

ROSTOV-ON-DON. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Rostselmash , a major Russian farm machinery manufacturer, plans to increase the volumes of export to Kazakhstan and African countries and to compensate with it for the losses of some markets due to the anti-Russian sanctions, Alexei Shveitsov, first deputy general director and director of the enterprise's sales, marketing and service department, told reporters on Wednesday.

Compensation for the shortfall in the supply volumes "failed in 2022, speaking about 2023 in comparison to 2021, yes [export is expected to increase]. There are considerable supplies to Kazakhstan, expansion to new markets, Sudan, Egypt, the South African Republic," Shveitsov said.

African states, in particular, Egypt, are interested in Rostselmash broad product range.

"We have found new partners, we have fairly big plans for the African region, there are supplies already. Contracts have already been signed, we are also meeting with the Egyptian government, there are broad needs," Shveitsov said.

The company is also supplying products to Turkey and China and is working with the CIS countries, namely, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, he said.

The plant suspended the production of several models for 1.5-2 months for geopolitical reasons last year. "Accordingly, we had to catch up in the fall," Shveitsov said.

Additional personnel was involved for the production of agricultural machinery. Besides, the construction of new plants in Rostov-on-Don and Taganrog continues.

Rostselmash co-owner Konstantin Babkin said in summer 2022 the manufacturer had supplied to Egypt the first large batch of 30 combines. Few combines had been supplied to the country before. "And there are plans to buy an even larger batch," he said.