Moscow didn't understand: Rostov region stuck with failed export plan
Grain sales plummeted due to a combination of several objective factors affecting the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation has refused to revise the planned agricultural export indicators for the Rostov Region. This was announced by the head of the region«s agriculture ministry, Anna Kasyanenko, at a meeting of the regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to her, the federal plan required the Rostov Region to export $7.1 billion worth of agricultural products in 2025. Preliminary data indicates the final export volume was only $5.2 billion.
Kasyanenko says the reasons for missing the target are objective and related to grain, which is the Rostov Region«s main agricultural export. Grain sales collapsed in 2025 due to a poor harvest, a strengthening ruble, low carryover stocks from the previous year, increased logistics costs, an unstable maritime situation, federally imposed duties, and the exit of a number of companies from the market.
«Furthermore, the prevailing global prices in ruble terms are almost 30% lower than last year»s level,« Kasyanenko said.
It was clear back in September that the export plan would not be met. At that time, Kasyanenko«s deputy, Olga Gorbanova, stated that the Rostov Region had officially asked the federal authorities to adjust this target for the region. She noted that »Moscow understands everything.«
Now it turns out the request was not heeded.
«The Ministry of Agriculture of the Rostov Region repeatedly sent letters to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia requesting an adjustment of the export target. No positive decision on this issue was made last year,» Kasyanenko explained.
According to her, the region is now asking for a reduction in the 2026 target, but so far to no avail.
«We are negotiating to adjust the plan, but for now it has been increased for us to $7.6 billion,» says Kasyanenko.
As reported by 161.RU, Governor Yuri Slyusar instructed officials to seek a resolution at the federal level on another issue: support for Rostov Region farmers affected by frosts and drought in 2025. Authorities had promised them loan restructuring, but it turned out that obtaining such support is extremely difficult due to rules set at the federal level.
