International trade - Incubator

Prices for Canadian wheat WRS have fallen to the lowest level in the last six months due to market instability and concerns about possible US trade tariffs. Limited sales by farmers, reduced demand, and producer uncertainty have also contributed to the decline in CWRS prices.

Orlovskaya Oblast ranks second in the Central Federal District and third in Russia in the production of rapeseed oil. Production has increased fivefold since 2010 and reached 218.6 thousand tons in 2024, including rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean oil at three plants.

China reduced the supply of high-quality vegetable oils, and animal feed increased fivefold to 748,000 tons in six months. Oil exports grew by 19%, reaching 93,000 tons. The country also imported 794,000 tons of grain and 171,000 tons of processed products.

The European Union has exported 14.7 million tonnes of wheat since the beginning of the 2024/25 year, which is 37% less than the previous year.

Soft wheat exports decreased by 30% to 13.94 million tonnes. Tunisia and Algeria have become the largest consumers of hard wheat.

Prodcorporation Kazakhstan plans to act as a mediator in concluding export contracts, providing farmers with access to global markets. The company also collaborates with foreign investors and strengthens the work on grain sales. Last year, contracts were signed for 621 thousand tons of grain worth 62.6 billion tenge.

At the beginning of 2025, the transportation of grain by Russian Railways (RZD) wagons decreased by 28.7% to 3.7 million tons. However, domestic shipments within the country increased by 25.2% due to a successful harvest in Siberia and the Urals.

The total freight turnover on the RZD network also decreased by 5.6%, amounting to 180 million tons in the first two months of 2025.

Alapala has built 2 flour mills for Forafric Group in Morocco. The mills in Sanabil and Moulin de Khad-Soualem with capacities of 120 and 250 tons per day respectively will meet the demand for flour in the region. They are equipped with advanced technologies for high efficiency.

Wheat prices are rising in Russia, while exports remain stable. Tunisia is purchasing at $262 per ton, with reports suggesting a possible increase in exchange prices. The volume of wheat exports is decreasing due to unprofitability.

Germany’s biodiesel export reached a new record in 2024, totaling 3.2 million tons. The Netherlands remain the main partner, while Belgium increased its import and the USA reduced their export. Import from Belgium has grown by 51%. Currently, HVO is the only alternative on the diesel fuel market due to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The transport of grain from Ukraine to Slovakia has increased, while it has decreased across the borders with Poland, Romania, and Hungary. As a result, the average daily volume of grain and cereals transportation has decreased by 7 wagons per day to 165.

From March to December 2025, there will be a restriction on the export of wheat and meslin from the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol to countries outside the Eurasian Economic Union. The quota is set at 400,000 tons. The distribution of the quota will be carried out by the Government of Crimea.

Starting from March 1, 2025, the rental rate for grain wagons of the branch "Center of Transport Logistics" of PJSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" will increase to 303 UAH per day, while the rate for food tanks will decrease to 338 UAH per day.

The rate for wagons for flour and hopper cars will remain unchanged.