Russia's agricultural trade with Africa grows 18% to $10 bln in 2024

MOSCOW. Nov 24 (Interfax) - Russia's trade in agricultural products with African countries grew by 18% to almost $10 billion in 2024, Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said by video link at an international conference on ensuring African nations' food sovereignty being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"Russia's key export commodities are grains, vegetable oil, as well as fish, poultry and dairy products," Lut was reported as saying in a report on TV channel Rossiya 24.

Russia, in turn, is interested in imports of coffee, tobacco raw materials and a number of other crop products from Africa that it cannot grow in its own climate.

"We still have, for example, stable demand for tropical fruits. In other words, Russia and Africa can essentially compliment one another with their product mix," Lut said.

She also said that the prospects for expanding cooperation between Russia and African countries are in large part tied to the implementation of joint projects, including in breeding and seed production.

"Russia is interested in conducting joint variety testing of crops such as wheat, barley, corn, sorghum and soybeans in various climatic conditions with African partners. This is particularly important for ensuring food security given the changing climate on the planet," Lut said.