Russian soybean meal exports have recorded remarkable growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by surging demand from neighboring countries. According to the Federal Center “Agroexport” under the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, increased interest from nearby markets — whose share of national exports in 2026 stands at approximately 68% — was one of the main growth drivers in foreign sales in January–March. Furthermore, both processing volumes and export geography expanded significantly during this period. Therefore, Russia is rapidly consolidating its position as a major global supplier of animal feed ingredients.
Russian Soybean Meal Exports Hit Near-Record Q1 Volumes in 2026
According to Agroexport analysts, in January–March of this year, Russia exported just over 230,000 tons of soybean meal. This represents a gain of +34% compared to Q4 2025 and +91% compared to the same period last year. Moreover, this is the second-highest volume in the entire history of observations for this period, after 2024, when deliveries were still directed to the EU. In contrast, the bulk of volumes in Q1 2026 went to Uzbekistan (70,000 tons) and Belarus (50,000 tons).
The growth in processing is also a key factor behind the export surge. Agroexport experts note:
“The sharp increase in soybean supply on the domestic market this season has led to an increase in processing volumes both at key production sites and at plants that previously primarily processed sunflower and rapeseed.”
Furthermore, given the introduction of several new processing capacities in Russia, a surplus of soybean meal has accumulated. Consequently, this surplus needed to be withdrawn to reduce pressure on domestic prices for raw materials and finished products. However, it was the competitive price of soybeans that supported export parity levels for meal this season, including to non-CIS countries.
CIS Countries Lead Russian Soybean Meal Export Growth
Central Asian and CIS markets led the expansion of Russian soybean meal exports in Q1 2026. The Agroexport report states:
“Against this backdrop, export shipments to nearby destinations increased – to Uzbekistan (by 146% compared to the same period last year), Kazakhstan (by 33%), Azerbaijan (by 26%), Tajikistan (by 238%), and Kyrgyzstan (by 149%).”
Turkey, China, Iran, and Morocco: Distant Markets Join the Growth
Beyond the CIS, shipments to more distant regions also showed significant growth compared to the same period last year. Specifically, exports to Turkey rose 3.1 times, while shipments to China surged 11.7 times. Additionally, a slight increase in demand for Russian soybean meal from Iran was noted amid ongoing events in the Middle East. Moreover, the period saw the first significant shipments — relative to historical perspective — to Morocco, marking a new export destination for Russian meal producers.
Source: APKinform (Ukraine)