Potential for Russian agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia estimated at $1.4 bln by 2030 - Agroexport

MOSCOW. Oct 9 (Interfax) - The Russian agricultural sector could increase exports to Saudi Arabia to over $1.4 billion by 2030, the head of the Agroexport federal center Ilya Ilyushin said during a panel discussion at the Golden Autumn 2025 agricultural exhibition in Moscow on Thursday.

"We see significant potential in expanding exports of Russian agricultural products to Saudi Arabia. Supplies could exceed $1.4 billion by 2030," Ilyushin said.

The growth will be 13% compared to 2024.

Grains will still form the basis of Russian supplies, but meat, processed products and vegetable oils also have significant potential, Ilyushin said, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia is a major Russian partner in the trade of agricultural products.

"Over the past five years, Russian exports to the kingdom have grown 3.6-fold and exceeded $1.2 billion. Saudi Arabia is a major buyer of Russian wheat and barley. Last year, wheat supplies increased 3.3% and reached 2.1 million tonnes, and barley [exports] rose 1.9-fold to 2.3 million tonnes," Ilyushin said. "Russia accounted for 59% of Saudi wheat imports and 58% of barley imports in 2024."

In addition, 9,000 tonnes of chickpeas worth $6.6 million were shipped last year.

Sunflower oil supplies to Saudi Arabia amounted to 88,000 tonnes worth $79 million last year, Ilyushin said.

"In addition to sunflower oil, we are developing supplies of soybean oil. In the current year, from January to August, they increased fivefold and exceeded 5,000 tonnes," he said.

Regarding meat exports, Ilyushin said that they have grown almost sevenfold over the past five years, to 88,000 tonnes. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important markets for Russian poultry and beef producers. In 2024, poultry meat exports to the kingdom increased 1.7-fold and exceeded 78,000 tonnes. Russia accounted for 12.5% of the total volume of Saudi poultry meat imports last year.

"In the current year, the positive dynamics continue. In January to August, poultry meat shipments increased 25% in physical terms and 1.6-fold in value terms to 54,400 tonnes, worth $146.9 million," he said.

The same positive dynamics are seen with regard to supplies of meat and offal of cattle.

At the same time, the export of finished products to Saudi Arabia is only beginning to develop, Ilyushin said.

Its basis consists of supplies of yeasts, coffee and tea extracts, fruit jams and products from the deep processing of grains.

"But despite the small amounts, the dynamics are significant. Over the past five years, supplies have grown 20 times to $6 million in 2024," he said.