According to the latest data, for 2023 the growth was up to 72% when compared with the results for 2022. As for the physical volumes of supplies, they grew even more, almost 3 times, and reached 900 thousand tons.
What does the UAE buy from Russia?
First of all, grains are popular. For example, wheat.
Its sales at the end of 2023 doubled, to 660 thousand tons. If we take the growth in supplies by cost, then it is 1.7 times.
The supply of barley also increased significantly, doubling. Currently they are at the level of 85 thousand tons.
Moreover, for the first time since 2017, last year the UAE purchased Russian corn in a volume of over 30 thousand tons.
At the same time, grains are not the only category of agricultural products that Russia purchases from the UAE.
The supply of grain legumes is also growing. For example, in 2023, the Russian Federation exported about 40 thousand tons of peas, which is three times more than in 2022. Finally, the supply of lentils increased 2.5 times, to 17 thousand tons.
An important stage in the path of cooperation between the two countries was 2022, when agreements on the export of seafood were signed. This applies in particular to frozen fish, shellfish, crustaceans and echinoderms.
Starting in 2022, deliveries also began in this category of goods. In 2023, about 30 thousand tons of them were sent to the UAE, an increase in exports by 50%.
What are the future prospects?
On the one hand, the UAE has a fairly large market, which may be of great interest to Russian agricultural producers. Due to its climatic conditions, the UAE remains dependent on food imports.
So Russia is gradually restoring and increasing its position in the market for grain, meat and vegetable oil in this country.
On the other hand, currently the share of Russian supplies in the UAE market is falling, since other suppliers are also actively entering this market.
“The main competition in this market currently comes from Australia, for which the UAE is a logistically attractive destination.
However, in 2023/2024, the El Niño effect led to a deterioration in the precipitation situation in Australia and a drop in gross harvest to 25 million tons, which allows Russian wheat to increase its share in the UAE market,” commented Rusagrotrans.
In general, trade turnover between the Russian Federation and the UAE doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, which means an active growth in cooperation.
