Russia Steps into the Global Soybean Meal Market

Russia Steps Into the Global Soybean Meal Market: A Game-Changer for Pakistan’s Poultry Industry?

Moscow/Islamabad:
With a historic bumper soybean harvest in 2025, Russia has officially entered the global soybean meal market. According to international agricultural sources, Russia’s leading processing company, Sodrugestvo Group, has finalized its first-ever export deal of 25,000 tones of soybean meal to Türkiye, with shipment expected in January 2026.

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This will be the first consignment from Russia’s Kaliningrad region to be exported to a non-CIS country, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Russia’s agricultural trade.

Russia’s record-breaking soybean production is set to transform global feed markets, with the Russian Agricultural Market Institute (IKAR) reporting that soybean output in European Russia is expected to surge from 5.7 million tones to 9.3 million tones, surpassing all previous highs. This exceptional surplus has enabled IKAR to forecast total exports of soybean meal and other oil meals reaching 4.4 million tones in 2025–26 — the highest in Russia’s history.

To strengthen its international position, Russia has imposed a 20% export duty on raw soybeans, a strategic move that discourages the export of unprocessed beans and favors value-added soybean meal, significantly boosting Russia’s competitiveness in global markets.

IKAR notes a rapidly increasing demand for Russian soybean meal across Türkiye, North Africa, Israel, and several other overseas markets, regions that could benefit from diversified supply options. As Russia enters the market with sizeable export volumes, global soybean supply chains may become more diversified and stable, potentially reducing price volatility and reshaping trade flows, especially for countries historically reliant on South American producers.

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Pakistan annually imports billions of rupees worth of soybeans and soybean meal, primarily from the USA, Brazil, and Argentina, but Russia’s entry into the global soybean meal market opens a major new opportunity for Pakistan. With shorter shipping routes, potentially lower import costs, and more stable supply chains, Russia can offer Pakistan a diversified and economically favorable alternative.

Since GMO soybeans are restricted for domestic use in Russia, its soybean meal is largely Non-GMO, making it an ideal choice for Pakistan’s poultry feed mills, livestock feed processors, and export-oriented food companies—perfectly aligned with the rising global preference for Non-GMO protein sources.

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Diplomatic engagement has already gained momentum: during the June 24, 2025 meeting between MNFSR and the Russian Embassy, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in agri-trade, food security, feed supplies, and agricultural machinery, further strengthening prospects for bilateral trade. Experts emphasize that Pakistan must act swiftly to benefit from this shift, as Russian soybean meal could significantly reduce feed production costs, stabilize the livestock and poultry sectors, lessen dependence on high-priced traditional suppliers, and expand access to premium Non-GMO markets, securing a long-term, strategically diversified position in the evolving global feed landscape.