Russia deepens its dominance of Africa’s grain market as exports jump 40%

Russia has further strengthened its position as Africa’s leading grain supplier, with exports to the continent rising sharply in the first half of 2026. New figures from Agroexport, Russia’s federal agency for agricultural exports, show a 40% increase compared with the same period last year.

Egypt remains Russia’s biggest African market

Russia exported nearly 5 million tonnes of grain to Africa during the first six months of 2026, underlining Moscow’s growing role in meeting the continent’s food needs.

Egypt remains by far the largest African destination for Russian grain, accounting for 44% of Russia’s cereal exports to the continent.

Cairo has increasingly turned to Moscow as a strategic supplier, helped by Russia’s geographical position and relatively favourable transport routes for grain shipments.

The strong relationship between the two countries reflects Egypt’s need to secure reliable supplies for its large population, while Russia continues to expand its presence in African agricultural markets.

Sudan’s grain imports surge amid war

Sudan is the second-largest African destination for Russian grain, with Russian exports to the country rising by 62% during the first half of 2026.

The increase comes as Sudan continues to face the consequences of more than three years of conflict.

Fighting has severely disrupted agricultural production in several parts of the country, putting additional pressure on food supplies.

A recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that Sudan’s domestic agricultural production is now around 20% below pre-war levels.

The deterioration of local production has increased the country’s dependence on imported cereals to meet domestic demand.

Kenya emerges as another major destination

Kenya has also become an increasingly important destination for Russian grain exports, ranking third among Russia’s African markets.

The FAO attributes part of Kenya’s growing demand to “needs driven by adverse weather events”, which have affected agricultural production and food availability.

The development illustrates how climate-related disruptions are adding to the continent’s structural demand for imported cereals.

Africa’s growing food demand

Russia’s nearly five million tonnes of grain exports to Africa in the first half of 2026 represent a significant volume. It is almost equivalent to the quantities exported by France or Ukraine to the continent over the whole of 2025.

Africa’s growing dependence on grain imports is being driven by several factors, including rapid population growth, changing diets and prolonged conflicts that have disrupted agricultural production in several countries.

For Russia, the trend offers an opportunity to consolidate its position in one of the world’s fastest-growing food markets.

For African countries, meanwhile, the rising flow of Russian grain provides an important source of supply at a time when food security remains a major concern across the continent.