Mishustin says Russian agricultural exports rose more than 15% by late September
In short
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said exports of Russian agricultural products (APK) rose more than 15% as of the end of September, speaking at a plenary session at the Golden Autumn 2026 exhibition. Mishustin said the government is taking additional measures to support farmers this year, partly to meet obligations to foreign partners. Interfax reported that APK exports stood at $40.9 billion in 2025, down 4.1% from 2024.
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Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Russian exports of agricultural products (APK) rose more than 15% as of the end of September, speaking at a plenary session at the Golden Autumn 2026 exhibition in Moscow. “According to data as of the end of September, volumes of agricultural exports grew by more than 15%, which confirms demand for domestic food and agricultural raw materials,” Mishustin said, according to Interfax. [ 3 ]
TASS and RIA Novosti reported the same figure in brief items citing the prime minister, with TASS stating that the indicators increased by more than 15%. Neither of the two official outlets provided further detail on the figure or the session. [ 1 , 2 ]
Mishustin said the government is taking additional measures to support farmers in the difficult conditions in which they have to work this year. The measures are aimed in part at fulfilling obligations to partners on foreign markets, he said, according to Interfax. Interfax did not list the specific measures. [ 3 ]
Interfax reported that APK exports amounted to $40.9 billion in 2025, 4.1% less than $42.6 billion in 2024. Imports rose 15% in 2025, to $43.4 billion from $37.7 billion in 2024. In 2024, exports fell 1.1% from $43.1 billion in 2023 while imports rose 7% from $35.1 billion; in 2023, exports rose 4.3% to $43.1 billion and imports fell 1.7% to $35.1 billion. [ 3 ]
According to Interfax, the main agricultural export categories are oilseed and fat products, fish and seafood, and grains and legumes. The documents do not give the monetary value of the growth to the end of September or state the base period against which the more than 15% increase is measured. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Agricultural exports are one of Russia’s main sources of foreign currency, and the government measures cited by the prime minister are aimed in part at keeping supply commitments to foreign buyers. The growth figure is stated for the period to the end of September, before the full-year result is known, and Interfax’s own figures show exports fell in 2025, so the comparison base remains unclear from the documents.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Russian agricultural (APK) exports grew more than 15% as of the end of September. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He said the figures confirm demand for domestic food and agricultural raw materials. [ 3 ]
- Mishustin spoke at a plenary session at the Golden Autumn 2026 exhibition. [ 3 ]
- He said the government is taking additional measures to support farmers in the difficult conditions they face this year. [ 3 ]
- The measures are aimed in part at fulfilling obligations to partners on foreign markets, he said. [ 3 ]
- APK exports were $40.9 billion in 2025, 4.1% less than $42.6 billion in 2024, according to Interfax. [ 3 ]
- Main agricultural exports are oilseed and fat products, fish and seafood, and grains and legumes, Interfax reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The monetary value of the reported more than 15% export growth is not given. Only the percentage is stated; no absolute figure for the period to end-September appears in the documents.
- The base period the more than 15% growth is measured against is not specified. The documents say “as of the end of September” but do not say which year or period is used for comparison.
- The specific support measures for farmers were not listed. Mishustin referred to additional measures without naming them; they are reported only by one outlet.
- The exact date and time of the plenary session is not stated. The documents give only publication times, not the time the session took place.
- The statement was made at the Golden Autumn 2026 exhibition, at a plenary session, according to Interfax. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS publishes its report on Mishustin’s statement that APK exports rose more than 15% as of the end of September. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes a report on the same statement by Mishustin. [ 2 ]
- Interfax publishes its article with Mishustin’s quote, the support measures and historical export and import data. [ 3 ]