In May, China significantly boosted its purchases of flour and grain from Russia, increasing the volume by 2.9 times compared with the same period in 2023, based on information from the PRC Statistical Service reported by RIA News.

At month end, China received over 141 thousand tons of Russian grain and flour, with the value of these deliveries reaching 33 million dollars.

The bulk of imports consisted of barley, accounting for roughly 80 thousand tons and about 19 million dollars. Following it were wheat and meslin, at 28 thousand tons valued around 7 million dollars, and oats, at 21 thousand tons worth about 4.8 million dollars.

Flour shipments for the period totaled 10.5 thousand tons, valued at 3.4 million dollars, while grain and whole-wheat flour amounted to 1.9 thousand tons with a value near 511 thousand dollars.

In the January–May interval, China imported 653 thousand tons of Russian grain, valued at 159 million dollars, which marks a 4.6-fold increase from the first five months of the previous year.

Previously, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture stated that frosts in May had scarcely affected the overall grain harvest.

Earlier reports from Russia indicated expectations of rising grain prices in the near term.