Exports of potatoes and other vegetables from Russia increased in 2024 thanks to the opening of new markets and high crop yields.

In the first quarter of 2024, potato exports increased by 1.8 times compared to the same period last year. This information was reported by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor). At the same time, shipments of other root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, grew by two times, and pome fruits, such as apples and pears, increased by 3.4 times. Also noted is a 2.2-fold increase in the export of onions and garlic. Specific shipment volumes are not reported.

The Executive Director of the Potato Union, Alexey Krasilnikov, stated in an interview with "Agroinvestor" that as of March 1, large agricultural enterprises had potato stocks from the 2023 harvest at 140% of the previous year's level. This became one of the reasons for the increase in exports. Additionally, the low prices of Russian potatoes also contributed to the export growth. As Krasilnikov explained, the domestic market is being satisfied through exports and processing, which are gradually increasing. However, due to difficulties in acquiring machinery, as imported equipment is often used, this process is hindered.

According to Krasilnikov, in the first quarter, both table and seed potato exports increased. New supply channels were opened, for example, Serbia began purchasing seed potatoes, and the goods are being supplied not only from the central part of Russia, but also from Tyumen. Turkey also started buying seed potatoes. In 2021, seed and table potato exports amounted to 144 thousand tons, in 2022 - 139 thousand tons, and for January-August 2023 - 81 thousand tons. Krasilnikov noted that the main volume of exports falls on the second half of the year. Additionally, he pointed out that the minimum level of profitability in potato farming is observed in these and previous seasons. According to a consulting agency, 60% of surveyed potato growers plan to keep planting areas the same as last year, over 20% are willing to reduce areas, while the rest have not yet decided.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this season the potato acreage is planned to remain at approximately the same level as last year - 305 thousand hectares. Moreover, an abnormally hot summer is expected, which may lead to a repeat of the drought in 2010. This is expected to increase costs for irrigation, fuel, and other production components, according to Krasilnikov. Depending on the region, changes in the potato acreage have different trends. For example, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, potato plantings are slightly increasing in the Bryansk, Moscow, and Tula regions, but a slight decrease is expected in the Rostov region.

Potato production in Russia in 2023 reached 8.6 million tons, which is 18% more than in 2022. This is the highest figure in the last three decades. The largest potato harvest was collected in the Bryansk, Tula, Moscow, Astrakhan, and Nizhny Novgorod regions. This was facilitated by the implementation of the federal project "Development of Vegetable and Potato Growing," launched in 2023, according to the Ministry of Agriculture's press service.