Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
Russia increased wheat exports to Middle East significantly in the 2025/26 season. Specifically, according to the Rusagrotrans analytical center, this region’s share of total Russian wheat exports in July-February rose to 37%. Furthermore, this compares to 28% a year earlier. Additionally, the main growth was driven by deliveries to Turkey, Iran, and Israel.
Russia increased wheat exports: Regional Market Shares and Competitive Factors
Analysts attribute this trend to the logistical proximity of Middle Eastern markets. Consequently, this reduces competition from other global exporters. Meanwhile, Africa’s share of exports declined slightly. Specifically, North Africa accounted for 32%, compared to 36% last season. Furthermore, this was due to reduced shipments to Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. Despite this, Russia set a record for grain exports to Sudan – 1.4 million tonnes.
South Asia’s share also declined from 8% to 6%. Moreover, this came amid increased competition from Argentina, Brazil, and the EU. In the first eight months of the season, Russia exported 32.7 million tons of wheat. Furthermore, global wheat trade in the 2025/26 season is estimated to increase to 206.3 million tons. Additionally, this growth is thanks to bumper harvests in key producing countries.