Source: Zerno On-Line (Russia)
From April 1 to 10, Russia Wheat Export April activity reached nearly 1.1 million tons of wheat. This represents 1.4 times more than the same period last year (745,000 tons), according to monitoring data from the Russian Grain Union.
As Elena Tyurina, director of the union’s analytical department, told Interfax, exports of all major grain crops increased 1.6-fold to 1.2 million tons. “Corn shipments jumped significantly, by 7.2 times, to 90,800 tons from 12,600 tons, and barley shipments totaled 64,700 tons; barley was not exported in the first ten days of April last season,” she said.
Key Export Destinations and Market Leaders
According to her, wheat reached 11 countries in the first ten days of April, compared to 14 a year ago. “The leading exports remained unchanged. Shipments to Egypt increased 4.1-fold, to 172,000 tons from 42,000 tons a year earlier, and to Turkey, 1.6-fold, to 146,500 tons from 90,600 tons. Shipments to Kenya more than quadrupled to 146,000 tons,” the expert reported. “Exports to Saudi Arabia are stable, as they were a year ago, at 60,500 tons. The situation is similar for Tanzania, where 54,300 tons were shipped.”
At the same time, she noted a significant decline in shipments to Israel, the first since the start of the season (July 1, 2025). In the first ten days of April, exports fell 2.6-fold to 22,500 tons from 58,300 tons a year earlier.
Furthermore, corn shipments increased due to purchases by Iran (64,600 tons) and Turkey (26,300 tons). There were no corn shipments to these countries in the first ten days of April last season. Similarly, the situation is comparable for barley, with Turkey (44,300 tons) and Iran (20,300 tons) the main buyers.
Russia Wheat Export April: Port Activity and Logistics
According to her, 21 companies were shipping grain and legume crops at the beginning of April, compared to 20 a year ago. “Generally speaking, the number of grain traders has reached the optimal level for the market: from July 1, 2025, to April 1, 2026, 20 companies exported 89% of the total volume for this period,” she said.
Tyurina also reported that grain and legume crops moved through 21 ports in the first ten days of April, compared to 10 a year ago. Novorossiysk traditionally leads the way, with shipments remaining virtually unchanged at 375,500 tons last year. Rostov-on-Don saw a slight decline, to 151,800 tons. Additionally, transshipment through Azov doubled, to 158,000 tons. Roadstead transshipment fell by 28%, to 121,300 tons, while 135,700 tons were shipped through Taman, compared to zero shipments a year ago.
Moreover, 102,000 tons were transshipped through Ust-Luga, and 65,000 tons through Vysotsk. Corn and barley shipments to Iran were sent through Astrakhan.
Global and Domestic Price Trends
Regarding the market price situation, Tyurina reported that both global and domestic prices declined during the first ten days of April. French wheat fell by $1 to $238 per ton, while American wheat also fell by $1 to $257. Russian wheat prices (grade 4, FOB Novorossiysk) fell by $2 to $238 per ton. She also noted price parity with European wheat. “It’s likely that geopolitical factors, rather than price advantages, will influence demand now,” she said.
Finally, domestic prices increased by 1% to 12,710 rubles per ton (grade 4). In dollar terms, prices rose by 6.3% to $178 per ton due to the exchange rate.