Russia has become the world leader in grain exports

So far, everything is going to the point that the task set by the president will be within the capabilities of domestic farmers. Data from the analytical agency ProZerno indicate that today export shipments of Russian grain are ahead of schedule for the last agricultural year.

Thus, during the current agricultural season (July 2023-June 2024), farmers supplied 51.15 million tons of grain to foreign markets. The number of issued phytosanitary certificates is also growing. According to the Argus-Fito system, since the beginning of 2024, they have been registered for 19.5 million tons of grain products, which is 13% higher than the same period in 2023, when there were 17.3 million tons.

It would seem that we have complete order with grain exports and there cannot be any pitfalls on the way to a foreign buyer. The main indicators of grain exports at the end of last year were 40% higher than the results of the same period in 2022. Note: with all the economic sanctions and external pressure on the countries that buy Russian bread.

However, there is no reason for euphoria. And the point here is not only in the restrictions that the “collective West” imposes against our country.

As noted by the head of the Union of Grain Exporters, Eduard Zernin, importing countries are introducing strict phytosanitary and quarantine requirements for imported grain in order to exclude products that are potentially dangerous to humans or the environment.

“If problems are identified, they notify the phytosanitary control authorities of the exporting country, who are obliged to take action. If such notifications are not isolated, the purchasing country may prohibit the supply of grain of a certain origin, he explains. “And we are not talking about the quality characteristics of grain – protein content, gluten and others – but about phytosanitary characteristics and the maintenance of quarantine objects.”

Dmitry Valigursky, a Moscow region farmer and part-time Doctor of Economic Sciences, knows first-hand about the high requirements of Rosselkhoznadzor for products.

“If we lose quality, we’ll lose the market,” he believes. – Competition is very high, all countries want to make money on grain. Europe, Canada, Australia, Argentina and other countries will immediately take our place. And we are leaders and we cannot retreat.

Some countries simply do not open their market due to pest risks. You don’t have to look far for an example: China, one of our main economic partners.

Well, the Celestial Empire opened its market for Russian grain only in 2015. And even then, supplies were allowed from only 4 regions of Russia. And gradually, step by step, Beijing is increasing the number of Russian regions that, as they say, are allowed entry. Back in February 2022, an agreement on wheat and barley was signed with the Main Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China – all regions of the Russian Federation can export from them.

Moreover, according to media reports, today there is a significant increase in the supply of peas to China; we have practically displaced Canadian peas from there. Venezuela also became interested in this culture. And before the middle of this summer, test batches of Russian lentils will be imported to India…

Of course, expanding the geography of supplies of Russian agricultural products is impossible without strict phytosanitary and quarantine control by the Rosselkhoznadzor authorities – which Eduard Zernin talks about. After all, the world market has long been divided into zones of influence and no one is really waiting for us anywhere. Let us remember that 20 years ago we considered our agriculture a “black hole” and bought our daily bread, along with Bush’s chicken legs, in the West.

No, a real revolution has taken place in the agricultural sector. And last but not least, this is due to the Rosselkhoznadzor inspectors who monitor the quality of exported products.

“Transactions on the market are carried out on the principle of “price – quality,” says Alexander Petrikov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Director of the All-Russian Institute of Agrarian Problems and Informatics. – And each state that buys Russian grains has its own set of requirements for such supplies. However, in addition to this, there is also the reputation of the exporting country, which must be valued. We position ourselves as a reliable partner in international trade. And this title must be supported by deeds every day. Rosselkhoznadzor is doing absolutely the right thing by introducing strict conditions for product quality. This department has accumulated a huge database of the requirements of importing countries that they put forward to us. And, in my opinion, Rosselkhoznadzor is guided only by them. Cares about the reputation of the entire country.

Rosselkhoznadzor reports that in 2023 they received 33 notifications about the non-compliance of Russian grain with the requirements of importing countries. And since the beginning of this year there have already been 13 notifications.

Meanwhile, a message flashed in the press that grain export shipments from the Rostov company TD RIF were suspended due to the discovery of quarantine objects in the shipments already formed for shipment – in other words, diseases. And, as they believe in RIF itself, one of the main exporters, due to the bias of Rosselkhoznadzor.

However, specialists from the territorial department of the department claim that in 2023-2024, 134 notifications of non-compliance of 252 batches of grain products were sent to the RIF Trade House and its counterparties. Also, after identified violations, numerous warnings were issued; it was impossible to issue shipping documents for the shipment.

By the way, representatives of the department pay special attention to the impartiality of the studies that RIF complains about. Because, “samples for research arrive at the testing laboratory in a sealed package, in a sealed safe bag, so the research performer cannot know which company owns the sample received for research,” commented service experts.

In general, only high quality grain can give Russian farmers a ticket to conquering new markets. And, accordingly, fulfill the task that the president set for them.