Russia orders measures to boost agriculture exports after wheat sales fall in July

By Olga Popova

MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Russian government ordered measures to boost agriculture exports after international sales of wheat fell to their lowest level since 2008 while traders are saying that new crop is slow to come to the Black sea terminals.

Sovecon consultancy estimates July wheat exports at 2.0-2.5 million tons compared with 3.67 million tons in July last year. Rail carrier Rusagrotrans estimates July exports at 2.4-2,6 million tons, citing slow harvesting and low carry over stocks.

The government said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, who oversees the sector, told agriculture officials "to take the necessary measures in a timely manner to ensure positive export dynamics".

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to increase exports by 50% by 2030. Patrushev asked officials to ensure that exports stay on target.

Russia's Deputy Agriculture Minister Andrei Razin said last week the harvesting campaign kicked off later this year due to weather conditions with crops collected from an area 60% smaller than in 2024.

Dmitry Rylko, head of IKAR consultancy, told Reuters that wheat exports will stabilise in one week as new crop wheat will come to the market. IKAR projects July wheat exports at 2 million tons of wheat in July.

Rylko said exports in July 2025 were the lowest for the period since 2008, before Russia became the world's biggest seller of wheat.

(Reporting by Olga Popova; Additional reporting by Gus Trompiza in Paris; writing by Gleb Bryanski; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)