Flour production in Russia

Grain crops (Russian market)

Main article: Grain crops (Russian market)

Grain exports and imports in Russia

Main article: Grain exports and imports in Russia

Chronicle

2024

Barley flour production in Russia soared by 26% over the year and reached 1.4 thousand tons

In 2024, the production of barley flour in Russia reached 1.4 thousand tons. The figure is up 26% from 2023. This is evidenced by the data of the analytical company Alto Consulting Group, released in October 2025.

The Volga Federal District retained its leadership in the production of barley flour. It accounted for 81.7% of the total output. The high concentration of production is explained by the presence of large processing enterprises in the region.

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Фото: Freepik

The increase in production is associated with an increase in barley yield in the main agricultural regions. The growing interest in deep processing of grain crops also influenced. Enterprises are actively optimizing production processes and modernizing equipment.

Barley flour is in demand in traditional bakery. The product is also used in the production of dietary and functional foods. Nutritional value and high digestibility make flour in demand in the domestic and foreign markets.

Consumers show an increased interest in healthy eating. This stimulates demand for barley processing products. The production of organic barley flour for retail is developing. The restaurant sector uses the product to improve the taste of bakery products.

Price dynamics for barley flour shows moderate growth. Manufacturers note an increase in energy and packaging costs. The increase in transportation costs for finished products also affects. However, the profitability of production remains at a positive level.

Analysts predict further production growth in 2025-2026. Volumes are expected to increase by 5-8% annually. A promising direction will be the development of exports to neighboring countries. The range of premium products will expand.^[1]

Growth in corn flour production by 3.6% to 37 thousand tons

The production of corn flour in Russia in 2024 reached 37 thousand tons, which is 3.6% more than in 2023. This was announced by the analytical company Alto Consulting Group in October 2025.

The moderate growth reflects a steady trend in the processing segment of the grain industry. Stable demand for deep corn processing products supports the development of the industry.

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Фото: Freepik

The largest output has traditionally been provided by the Southern Federal District. The region accounted for about 64.6% of all corn flour produced in the country. The region maintains its leadership thanks to a developed raw material base, a high concentration of processing enterprises and favorable agroclimatic conditions.

Corn flour is one of the most sought-after types of grain products. The product is used not only in the food industry, but also in related industries. Confectionery uses flour for various products. Baby food includes corn flour in the formulations. The feed industry applies the product to animal feed.

Demand for corn flour in Russia is growing due to the diversification of the diet. The development of a healthy lifestyle stimulates consumption. The popularization of gluten-free products increases interest in alternative types of flour.

Alto Consulting Group analysts highlighted the key features of the modern stage of market development. There is a steady demand from food enterprises using corn flour in mixtures and semi-finished products. Agro-industrial clusters are actively developing in the South of Russia, where the main production facilities are concentrated. The range of finished products aimed at consumers choosing alternative cereals is expanding. Export potential is increasing, especially to the CIS countries and the Middle East. The role of small and medium-sized processors is increasing, creating niche brands of natural and environmentally friendly products.^[2]

In Russia, the production of fish flour for animal feed for the year increased by 11% to 194 thousand tons

The volume of fish feed flour production in Russia increased by 47% for the period from 2020 to 2024. The indicator increased from 131 thousand tons to 194 thousand tons. Over the past year, production has grown by 11% and reached a record level. The growing external demand from the leading countries in the production of aquaculture encourages Russian manufacturers to increase production. This is evidenced by the data of the "Analysis of the fish food flour market in Russia," prepared by BusinesSta and published in October 2025.

Fish flour is used as an ingredient in mixed feed for fish and farm animals. Products in Russia are produced during pollock cutting on the sides of ships and from waste produced by onshore fish processing plants. The enterprises are mainly located in the Far East. Ready-made flour is exported to China and South Korea. For five years, the export of fishmeal from Russia increased by 70%.

The largest producers of fish fodder flour in Russia:

• JSC "Oceanrybflot."
• JSC "Yuzhmorrybflot."
• PJSC Murmansk Trawl Fleet.
• CJSC Kuril Fisherman.
• JSC "Fishing enterprise" Akros. "

The demand for fish flour is growing in the domestic market of Russia. Aquaculture development programs in the country stimulate the consumption of high-quality feed ingredients. Active import substitution in the production of mixed feed for fish and animals encourages processors to develop not only the export direction. Producers produce high quality fish meal for consumers domestically. Domestic fish farms increase the volume of trout, sturgeon and other valuable species.

The high prices of fishmeal do not stop feed producers. Companies continue to use the ingredient because of its essential properties. Replacing fishmeal with protein of plant origin leads to negative consequences. Putting it into feed below the norm can lead to a slowdown in the growth of fish. A decrease in immunity in animals occurs with a deficiency of high-quality protein. Fish meal contains a complete set of essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids.^[3]

Growth in sales of wood flour 4 times up to 40 thousand tons

According to the Analysis of the Wood Flour Market in Russia, prepared by BusinesStat in May 2025, in 2020-2024 its sales in the country increased more than 4 times: from 9 to 40 thousand tons.

The increase in demand is due to the low cost and environmental friendliness of the material, as well as the universal use of wood flour as a raw material component in various industries. Growth in production in the consuming industries also affects the increase in sales of wood flour.^[4]

Flour production in Russia for the year decreased to 9.17 million tons

By the end of 2024, flour production in Russia decreased to 9.17 million tons from 9.26 million tons in 2023. This is evidenced by the data of the Center for Sectoral Expertise "Rosselkhozbank," published in March 2025. Despite the decline, output remains above 2019 levels, when the figure was 8.6 million tons. The largest producers on the market remain Altai Flour Mill Company, PAVA, Melnik, Nastyusha and Melkombinat No. 3.

According to the press service of the Russian Agricultural Bank, the main driver of growth was the increase in the production of prime grade bakery flour. From 2020 to 2024, indicators increased by 10.3% - from 5.75 million tons to 6.5 million tons, respectively.

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Фото: Freepik

Various types of niche flour demonstrated significant growth dynamics. Rice flour has become the absolute leader in terms of production growth over the past five years, whose volumes have increased 4.7 times. Corn flour (2.2 times increase), buckwheat flour (+ 76.2%), oat flour (+ 54.3%) and barley flour (+ 36.6%) also showed a significant increase.

In relation to the level of 2023, the largest increase was recorded in the segment of coarse wheat flour, which is mainly used for baking table varieties of bread. Analysts of the Russian Agricultural Bank attribute the total increase in flour production to an increase in consumption by the population.

During the Shrovetide week, analysts at the Russian Agricultural Bank conducted a study of consumer preferences regarding pancakes - a traditional dish that requires flour to cook. The results showed that the majority of Russians (66%) prefer to bake pancakes for the holiday on their own, controlling the process and adding their secret ingredients.^[5]

Growth of flour supplies abroad by 3% to $300 million

The export of wheat and wheat-rye flour from Russia in 2024 reached $300 million, an increase of 3% in monetary terms and 7% in kind compared to 2023. Such data became known in early January 2025.

According to Interfax, according to the Agroexport center, Afghanistan became the largest importer of Russian flour, purchasing products worth $80 million, which is twice the figure for 2023. The second and third places were taken by China and Turkmenistan.

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Фото: Freepik

Deliveries to a number of countries increased significantly: to Iran - 18 times, to Mongolia - 6 times, to Thailand - 1.9 times, to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - 1.6 times. According to Agroexport forecasts, by 2030 the export volume may exceed $440 million.

Nikita Ivantsov, head of the strategic development division for far abroad of Makfa JSC, noted an increase in the company's supplies to the countries of near and far abroad by more than 1.5 times in 11 months of 2024. Products are exported to more than 30 countries.

General Director of Progress Agro LLC Anton Ulanov announced an increase in the export of the company's wheat flour by 100% to 20 thousand tons in 2024. The company expanded its supply geography to include Palestine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The growth of exports is due to the restriction of the supply of grain and flour from some large suppliers, the weakening of the ruble exchange rate and the expansion of the geography of supplies. The countries of Asia, the states of the Persian Gulf and Africa are considered promising directions.

China and neighboring countries are showing steady demand for Russian products. Manufacturers plan to maintain positions in traditional markets and develop supplies towards Southeast Asia and Africa.

The Progress Agro Group of Companies, which began exporting ground products in 2022, significantly increased supply volumes in the main areas - the CIS and Afghanistan, and also successfully entered the Chinese market.

In 2025, Russian manufacturers plan to further expand the geography of exports and increase the volume of supplies in existing markets.^[6]

2023: Flour production in Russia increased by 3.9% to 9.26 million tons

In 2023, the production of wheat and wheat-rye flour in Russia reached 9.26 million tons. This is 3.9% more compared to 2022, when the volume of output was estimated at 8.91 million tons. The driver of the industry is record shipments of flour abroad, as stated in the BusinesStat review, published on April 16, 2024.

The study considers the production of wheat flour of the second, first and highest grade, cereals, products of the Extra variety, wheat upholstery and wheat-rye flour. Among the leading market players named the firm "Agrocomplex" named after N.I. Tcheveva, "Makfa," "Saburovsky combine of bread products," "Association Soyuzpishcheprom," "Aleiskzernoproduct," "Makrop," "Leningrad combine of bread products named after S. M. Kirov," "Melkombinat," Agro-industrial association "Aurora" and others.

According to estimates, in 2019, 8.61 million tons of wheat and wheat-rye flour were produced in Russia. In 2020, a decline of 2.6% was recorded - to 8.38 million tons, and in 2021 there was a decrease of another 1% with a final result of 8.3 million tons. The fall is associated with weakening demand within the country against the background of popularization of the principles of proper nutrition, which exclude flour products from the daily diet. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, sales in the segments of the hotel and restaurant business and industrial processing decreased.

In 2022, the decline was replaced by growth, which amounted to 7.4% - up to 8.91 million tons. In 2023, positive dynamics remained. The introduction of a high export duty on Russian grain in 2021 led to more active processing of wheat within the country and an increase in the export of wheat flour at competitive prices. The main importing countries of these products in 2023 were Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In addition, supplies to North Korea rose.^[7]

2022

Increase in production of fish fodder flour by 39% to 158 thousand tons

The production of fish fodder flour in Russia in 2022 reached 158 thousand tons, which is 9.3% more than a year earlier. Compared to 2018, the market volume grew by 39%, analysts at BusinesStat calculated. Their study was published in late October 2023.

According to experts, the driver of the development of fish meal production in Russia is growing external demand. The share of exports in the production of fish feed flour is predominant and tends to grow: in 2018-2022. It increased from 61.9% to 76.8%.

The main importing countries of fish fodder flour from Russia are China and South Korea - countries with developed aquaculture, presenting a growing demand for feed for fish and other aquatic organisms. In 2022, these two countries accounted for 98.5% of total exports. Russian fish meal producers, which are concentrated mainly in the east of the country, often find it more profitable to sell finished products to China or South Korea in large quantities so as not to incur the cost of storing and transporting products to other regions of Russia. Over the five-year period, the supply of fish feed flour from Russia to China has grown 1.4 times, to South Korea - 2.2 times.

From the BusinesStat study, published at the end of October 2023, it also follows that in recent years, China's aquaculture has been reorienting itself from an extensive increase in volumes to the cultivation of valuable fish hatchery facilities that are sensitive to the quality of feed protein, in particular the presence of fish flour in the feed. Therefore, in the near future, the demand for feed fish flour in China will increase, which will lead to a further increase in the volume of its Russian exports. The increasing external demand for products will contribute to the growth of its production in Russia.^[8]

Growth in wheat and wheat-rye flour production by 5.3% to 8.74 million tons

The production of wheat and wheat-rye flour in Russia in 2022 reached 8.74 million tons, an increase of 5.3% compared to the previous year. Market growth resumed for the first time in several years. This is evidenced by the data released in May 2023 by the analytical agency BusinesStat.

According to the study, in 2022, the export of wheat and wheat-rye flour from Russia became a record in five years and exceeded the level of the previous year by 3.4 times, amounting to 616 thousand tons. The incentive to increase the supply of flour milling products abroad was the high export duty on Russian grain. It has become more profitable for importing countries to buy ready-made flour than wheat. The second important factor was a sharp drop in flour supplies from Ukraine, which opened up new sales markets for Russian exporters. Experts called the drought in Turkey as a third factor.

Against the background of a low wheat harvest in Turkey in 2022, supplies of Russian wheat and wheat-rye flour increased both to Turkey itself (from 0.9 to 77.4 thousand tons) and to Iraq, which is a large buyer of Turkish flour (from 15.3 to 159.8 thousand tons).

The increased demand in 2022 spurred investment activity in the milling industry, analysts said. Several large manufacturers announced the launch of new projects at once:

• Grain Ingredient has launched the production of vitamin wheat flour;
• Agroholding "Steppe" opened flour production in the Rostov region and announced plans to modernize existing production in order to increase flour production capacity;
• Progress Agro completed the design of the flour plant in 2022, which is scheduled to launch at the end of 2023;
• "Basis Plus" launched a flour mill in the Krasnodar Territory.^[9]

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