China Expands Russian Grain Purchases, but Larger Suppliers Retain Their Lead
China sharply increased purchases of Russian wheat, barley and corn in January-July 2026. Russia nevertheless remained behind larger suppliers, while restrictions limiting access to spring grain constrain further growth.
Wheat purchases approach the 2025 total
China imported $13 million of Russian wheat in January-July 2026, 5.5 times the $2.5 million recorded in the same period of 2025, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs reported by Zol.ru. The seven-month value was already close to the $13.8 million purchased during all of 2025.
July produced the sharpest year-on-year comparison. Chinese purchases reached $4.3 million, versus $17,700 in July 2025, and were almost three times June’s $1.5 million. January remained the strongest month of 2026 at $5.3 million.
The growth follows a weak previous year rather than an uninterrupted expansion. China imported $13.8 million of Russian wheat in 2025, 6.3 times less than the $87.3 million recorded in 2024. The current rebound therefore restores only part of the trade lost last year.
Russia remains a secondary wheat and barley supplier
China sourced wheat from eight countries during January-July. Canada led with $444.2 million, followed by Australia at $274.2 million and the United States at $98.2 million. Argentina supplied $95.3 million, leaving Russia in fifth place despite its faster growth rate.
Russian barley sales to China more than doubled to $96.6 million from $45.7 million a year earlier. July shipments rose to $12.1 million from $3.6 million in July 2025, although they declined from $14.6 million in June 2026.
The competitive gap in barley was also substantial. China purchased the grain from seven countries, with Australia supplying $1.7 billion and Canada $394.9 million. Argentina moved ahead of Russia with $125.6 million, pushing Russia into fourth place. Russian barley exports to China had fallen to $111.2 million in 2025 from $177.1 million in 2024.
Corn advances as Russia slips to third place
Russian corn shipments to China increased 1.4 times to $86.8 million in January-July, compared with $61.8 million a year earlier. July sales reached $16.8 million, up from $12.4 million in July 2025 and $12.6 million in June 2026.
China bought corn from 19 countries over the seven months. Brazil led with $147.9 million and Argentina supplied $92.4 million, moving Russia into third place. The Russian trade had already expanded strongly in 2025, when corn exports to China rose to $107.6 million from $34.2 million in 2024.
Other July grain flows were mixed. RIA Novosti, citing Chinese customs data, reported that purchases of Russian oats doubled to $2.1 million, while buckwheat imports declined 1.4 times to $4.9 million.
Market access will determine the next stage
China currently permits imports only of Russian spring wheat and spring barley. Russian experts cited in the reports consider winter wheat and winter barley to have the greater export potential, and Russia is seeking authorization to supply those crops.
The January-July figures show that Russian grain can gain sales quickly when shipments are available, but they do not yet establish a durable change in China’s sourcing structure. Russia’s wheat value remains a fraction of Canadian and Australian sales, while Australia also dominates barley. Approval for winter crops would expand the eligible supply base; without it, growth will remain dependent on a narrower segment of Russian production and on volatile comparisons with weak prior periods.
