Russian flax market

Chronicle

2025: The largest flax processing plant in Europe was built in the Rostov region for ₽3 billion

In the Azov district of the Rostov region, a flax processing and flax oil production plant with a total value of ₽3 billion was commissioned, which became the largest enterprise of this profile in Europe with a processing capacity of about 150 thousand tons of flax annually and a planned production volume of 50-55 thousand tons of flax press oil and 90 thousand tons of flax cake. This was announced by Igor Burakov, Director General of the Agency for Investment Development of the Rostov Region, on August 6, 2025. Read more here

2023: Sowing areas of flax in Russia in 4 years decreased by 30% to 35.2 thousand hectares

In 2023, the sown areas of flax-dolgunets in Russia amounted to approximately 35.2 thousand hectares. For comparison, in 2019 this figure was estimated at 49.7 thousand hectares. Thus, in four years, a drop of about 30% was recorded. Relevant data are reflected in the BusinesStat review published on July 23, 2024.

Flax is used to obtain short strand fiber (used for the manufacture of bag and packaging fabrics), non-strand fiber (used to make ropes, twine, etc.), as well as long flax fiber (used to create fabric for sewing clothes, home textiles). Key players in the Russian industry include Flax Manufactory Partnership LLC, Russian Len LLC, Biysk Flax Company JSC, Sheksna JSC and Ilyino-Zaborskoye JSC.

The study says that in 2020, the sown areas of flax-dolgunets in Russia increased by 6.5% compared to 2019, reaching 52.9 thousand hectares. However, then the fall began. In 2021, the area decreased by 24.9% - to 39.7 thousand hectares, and in 2022 there was a decrease of 11.2% with a final result of 35.3 thousand hectares. In 2023, a decrease of 0.1% was recorded.

Analysts attribute the negative dynamics to the insufficient demand for flax among agronomists compared to wheat and other grains. Unlike agricultural organizations engaged in flax-dolgunets, grain producers can predict profitability in advance. At the same time, there is a growing demand for Russian flax fiber in the world market. It is said that the sale prices of flax fiber during 2019-2023 rose almost three times. In Russia, there are state programs aimed at reviving and increasing the production of Dolgunets flax.^[1]

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