According to the latest data, oil and fat exports by the end of 2025 decreased by 12% compared to 2024.
Experts note that Russia shipped 11 million tons to foreign markets in total last year.
The reduction primarily affected sunflower oil and meal volumes. This, in turn, occurred due to a decline in the sunflower seed harvest last year.
Furthermore, soybean oil supplies decreased. This occurred for a different reason: no GMO soybeans were imported into Russia in the first half of 2025.
It’s worth noting that this product, as well as the oil produced from it, is not permitted for sale on the domestic Russian market. However, oil refineries used this raw material to produce products that were then shipped to foreign buyers.
However, in the second half of the year, GMO soybean imports for these purposes resumed. Ultimately, this allowed the overall volume of fat and oil product exports to be restored to acceptable levels.
It is expected that in 2026, exports will return to the levels of the year before last, having increased by approximately 11% compared to 2025.
«At the same time, we see a significant increase in the rapeseed industry—up 30% year-on-year.
Also, in terms of value, fat and oil product exports increased by 5.5%, due to the gradual increase in prices for vegetable oils on the global market throughout the year,» noted the Russian Oil and Fat Union.
Experts note that the price increase for such products, as well as the introduction of a moratorium on the export duty for sunflower oil, have significantly supported this industry.
Currently, Russia remains the world leader in sunflower oil exports, and has also risen from third to second in rapeseed oil, an impressive result.
Analysts note that in recent years, there has been a trend toward increasing exports of highly processed products while simultaneously reducing raw material supplies, which can be considered a positive development for the Russian economy.
At the same time, significant obstacles to the further development of the oil and fat industry in Russia include the extremely strong ruble, which is reducing exporters’ revenues, and the Central Bank’s strict policy, which is making affordable financing unavailable.
If these unfavorable factors are eliminated or at least mitigated, there is no doubt that the oil and fat industry in Russia will be able to gain new momentum and achieve even more significant results in the foreseeable future.
