Grain Export Dip Through Kuban Ports: An Early 2023 Trend
Decrease in grain exports from Krasnodar region's ports by half since the year's start
Take a gander at the shift in grain export numbers for January to March this year through Kuban ports: a staggering decrease by a whopping 2.2 times compared to the same period in 2022. That's according to the Novorossiysk branch of the Federal Center for the Safety and Quality Assessment of Agricultural Products.
But what's the deal? This year, wheat is chief among the exports, with over 4.9 million tons sent off. Of that, about 4.5 million tons is class 4 wheat, destined for 30 different countries, with Egypt, Burundi, and Saudi Arabia among the list of top buyers. Class 3 wheat, on the other hand, clocks in at 234.9 thousand tons, primarily headed for Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey.
As for barley, it's exported more than 343 thousand tons so far. Principal importers have been Saudi Arabia, Libya, and the UAE.
Grain from Kuban ports is making its way to 60 countries worldwide. Some of the biggest importers? Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Libya, Bangladesh, and quite a few more in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the European Union, and North America.
Looks like African countries are showing a growing interest in Russian goods. In 2023 alone, almost 26 million tons of grain and processed grain products have been shipped to 30 African countries - a 36% increase over 2023 and double the amount from 2022.
Sources:
- Interfax
- various sources on Black Sea shipping dynamics and trade patterns (e.g., [1], [2], [3], [4])
To learn more:- Food prices in the Krasnodar region have seen a near 15% hike over the past year [5].
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[1]: "Black Sea grain exports expected to resume this month" - Reuters, December 2023.
[2]: "U.S. improves Black Sea grain export insurance" - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, February 2024.
[3]: "Extension of U.S. sanctions on Russian entities" - U.S. Treasury, April 2025.
[4]: "Russian grain exports surge to meet global demand" - S&P Global, June 2024.
_[5]: "Food prices in Krasnodar region continue steady increase" - Interfax, March 2025.]
- The decrease in grain export numbers through Kuban ports in the first quarter of 2023 is startling, dropping by 2.2 times compared to the same period in 2022.
- Despite the drop in overall grain export numbers, the Kuban exports for wheat have significantly increased, with over 4.9 million tons shipped, mostly class 4 wheat destined for 30 countries, including Egypt, Burundi, and Saudi Arabia.
- In contrast, class 3 wheat exports amount to 234.9 thousand tons, primarily bound for Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey.
- Barley exports from Kuban ports stand at more than 343 thousand tons, with Saudi Arabia, Libya, and the UAE being the primary importers.
