In the 2025/26 season, Russia achieved a significant milestone by exporting over 850,000 tons of wheat to Tanzania, marking a 16% increase from the previous season. This record volume was reported by the Russian agriculture export agency, Agroexport, which highlighted that this figure is also 47% above the five-year average. The growing demand for wheat in Tanzania is evident, as the country imported approximately 1.5 million tons of wheat during this season, an increase of 200,000 tons from the previous year, making it the highest level on record.
The East African Community (EAC) countries are becoming increasingly important for Russian wheat exports, with combined shipments to the bloc reaching about 3.5 million tons in the 2025/26 season. This represents a 26% increase from the previous year and accounts for roughly 16-17% of Russia's total wheat exports to Africa. Key importers within the EAC include Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, which have all seen significant increases in their wheat imports from Russia.
In addition to Tanzania, Russia has also expanded its wheat exports to other African nations. For instance, shipments to Kenya rose by 10% year-on-year, reaching around 1.4 million tons, while exports to Egypt increased by 19% and deliveries to Sudan surged by 78%. This growth in exports is part of a broader trend, as Agroexport reported that shipments to the African continent have grown by 22% over the past five years, surpassing $5 billion in 2025.
The increase in wheat exports is not solely limited to grain; there has also been a notable rise in the delivery of value-added products such as animal feed, yeast, soft drinks, tea and coffee concentrates, and molasses, which have more than doubled. Agroexport predicts that total agricultural exports to Africa could exceed $7.5 billion by 2030, indicating a strong and growing relationship between Russia and African nations in the agricultural sector.
