In a statement, the Russian agricultural minister has said that his nation has reoriented its exports of agricultural products, diverting them to nations which have not supported Western sanctions against the Kremlin, with 87% of such exports now going to such nations.

Speaking at a ministerial panel on Friday, agricultural minister Dmitry Patrushev said, “Shipments of Russian agricultural produce to China, Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh, Algeria and Pakistan have seen a significant increase.”

He emphasized that Russian producers have been steadily building their relationships with responsible and reliable foreign partners.

In 2022 Russian remained a net- exporter of agricultural products, with foreign exports in monetary terms totaling $41.6 billion, while imports added up to $35.7 billion, according to data provided by the minister. He also added that every fifth batch of wheat exported from somewhere in the world is being shipped from Russia.

He also noted Russia exported over two million tons of fish and more than 730,000 tons of livestock products in 2022, and that Russia has been increasing its exports of item with high added value.

Patrushev has said last month that estimates were for Russia’s grain exports in the 2023-2024 season to reach between 50 and 55 million tons .

At a televised government meeting, he pointed out that in 2023, the nation’s wheat crop reached 78 million tons, and that 93% of the winter grain crops had weathered the cold of the winter in good condition.