Russia supplies most of the wheat used in East Africa

Russia has become Africa’s leading wheat supplier, particularly in North and East Africa, thanks to large exportable surpluses, competitive prices and favourable shipping routes. Russia’s Agroexport centre says wheat exports to African countries hit a record 21.2 million tonnes in the 2023/24 season. USDA data published in April 2026 put 2025/26 wheat imports at about 33.4 million tonnes for North Africa and 31.5 million tonnes for Sub-Saharan Africa. Egypt imported around 8.53 million tonnes of Russian wheat in 2024, worth more than $3.05 billion.