Russia Becomes World’s No. 1 Grain Exporter, Leaving U.S. and Canada Behind

PRESS RELEASE

Russia Becomes World’s No. 1 Grain Exporter, Leaving U.S. and Canada Behind

June 16, 2016 (EIRNS)—According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Russia now leads the United States in the volume of grain exports, exporting 35 million tons 2016, which is 3.5 million more than the U.S. did, and which exceeds Canadian exports by 2 million tons. This is the first time in modern history that Russia has become the top grain exporter.

And while Russia’s agriculture sector is expanding generally, European Union sanctions and Russian counter-sanctions have served to almost wipe out European farmers. The Russian counter-sanctions ban many agricultural imports from countries which have joined the sanctions against Russia.

In 2014, the U.S. was the world’s No. 1 grain exporter, followed by Canada and then Russia.

"A strong U.S. dollar did play a part in this, adding to the cost of U.S. grain exports and enabling Russia to clinch deals to sell wheat to such traditional buyers of American grain as Nigeria and Mexico,"

Russian Grain Union Vice President Alexander Korbut told Sputnik.

Russia expects to harvest some 64 million tons of wheat, within a total grain harvest estimated at between 106 and 111 million tons. The previous record of 108.2 million tons was produced in 2008. In addition to grain, poultry and pork meat production have tripled and doubled, respectively, since 2006, also thanks to EU/NATO sanctions that have hurt European farmers, in particular.

In 2015, agricultural exports earned Russia a record $20 billion, more than the sale of arms. At the same time, food imports dropped by a hefty 40%.