Well this isn't good news for current suppliers or for armchair geo-strategists.
Via InfoBRICS, February 11:
Russia has been given the green light to export wheat grown across the country to China, in a breakthrough that could increase competition for sales from Europe and North America.
China will now accept wheat and barley from all over Russia, up from a previously allowed seven regions, which excluded big growing areas, Russia’s agriculture watchdog said. Until now, shipments have been limited because of China’s concerns about the dwarf bunt fungus in parts of Russia.
Russia has long sought to boost farm exports to China, and in recent years signed deals to ship poultry while also planning to start express food trains. The agreement gives the wheat giant a chance to boost sales to a country that has become one of the top buyers. It also followed the first in-person meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in more than two years.
“Russian grain potentially could win some market share from the West in Chinese markets, so it could look beneficial for politicians in both countries,” Andrey Sizov, head of consultant SovEcon, said by phone. China could eventually become one of the top destinations for Russian wheat, he added.
The two countries are continuing to work on potential trade opportunities, watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement. That includes a plan to allow Russia to supply peas to China in 2022.
Russian wheat exports have jumped in the past decade, grabbing share across mainstay European and American markets. China has been one of the few remaining holdouts, and winning access there now could challenge sales from France, Australia and the US....
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