Russia is world's 4th biggest exporter of agricultural products despite sanctions

Russia has become the fourth country in the world in terms of agricultural exports with revenues reaching $43.5 bln, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

"We have become the fourth country in the world in terms of exports of agricultural products, and the first country in the world in terms of wheat. Revenues from selling products on foreign markets amounted to <...> $43.5 bln," he said.

Putin also added that Russia's revenues from exports of agricultural products increased 30 times. "Last year, export revenues reached $43.5 bln. The volume increased 30-fold - not just some percentage, but export revenues increased 30 times," Putin said.

In his opinion, such results "only recently seemed absolutely unrealistic." "If they had said in 2000 that we would have 43.5 bln in export revenue, no one would have believed it, it seemed like some kind of fantasy. But these are the realities today," Putin emphasized.

He recalled that in 2022, 157 mln tons of grain were exported, and in 2023 - 147 mln tons.

Putin noted that Russian grain exports may total up to 65 mln metric tons in the agricultural year of 2023-2024. "In my opinion, our grain exports were about 50-53 mln metric tons in the last season, in 2022-2023, and they will be up to 65 mln metric tons in 2023-2024," the Russian leader noted.

The President assured that he will support any decision of the government on diesel fuel prices to meet needs of agricultural producers this year. Such decision should be timely made, Putin said.

He believes Russia has almost no dependence on food imports. "So much has changed in the agro-industrial sector during past years. The dependence in 2000 was almost on all main components and directions in respect of providing the country with foods. Such dependence does not actually exist at present," the head of state said.

The Russian leader commended the success achieved by agricultural workers recently. The President underscored "the talent of agricultural production organizers, labor achievements of teams, enthusiasm of agricultural producers and their pride for what they are doing.

(Source: TASS)