China Feeding russia with Potatoes: Exports Have Increased 4.4 Times

Declining production, increasing dependence on imports, ineffective government measures, and rising prices in russia have led to China’s exporting $56.3 million worth of potatoes to russia in January–July this year, which is 4.4 times more than in the same period in 2024. In particular, in July this year, supplies increased to $6.9 million from $4.3 million a year earlier.

In russia, potato production decreased by 12 % in 2024 compared to 2023. As a result, potato prices rose sharply and for a long time led the market for fruit and vegetable products in terms of growth rates. According to rosstat, the area under potatoes in farms of all categories (agricultural organizations, farmers, personal subsidiary farms) in 2025 decreased even more than in previous years.

russian agriculture is showing a trend toward reducing the production of strategically important crops, which increases dependence on imports and makes food security vulnerable. At the same time, state support instruments (quotas, regulations) are extremely ineffective.