India, Russia look to strengthen balanced bilateral agriculture trade

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev met Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as both nations discussed trade barriers, fertiliser and oil imports, and wider farm cooperation

On Friday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, who is visiting India as a precursor to President Vladimir Putin’s visit. Patrushev called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. 

 

During the meeting, India raised concerns over phytosanitary and non-tariff barriers imposed on agriculture exports to Russia. It has also sought more cooperation from Russia in agriculture research and development between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Russian agriculture research bodies, per a statement issued by Chouhan post the meeting. 

 

India has stepped up its imports of fertilisers, yellow peas, sunflower and soybean oils from Russia in the last few years. 

Following US' tariff snub, India is eyeing the Russian seafood markets, as part of a larger focus on European Union countries, according to sources. 

 

Between financial years 2023 and 2024, India’s imports of fertilisers from Russia grew 26 per cent, according to data. The total share of Russian imports of fertilisers rose from 20 per cent to 27 per cent in the same period.

 

Muriate of Potash, Urea and other complex fertilisers dominated Russian imports.

 

India has also imported significant quantities of yellow peas from Russia in the last few years. 

 

Trade data showed that between FY24 and FY25, imports of yellow peas from Russia surged nearly 89 per cent, though overall yellow peas imports fell about 6 per cent during the same period.

 

“Russia is sitting on a huge stockpile of almost 5 million tonnes of yellow peas and India has emerged as a major market for its crop,” a senior trade official said.

 

When it comes to soybean and sunflower oil, data showed that between November 2024 and August 2025, India’s imports of crude soybean oil from Russia has risen by almost 60 per cent, while its share in crude sunflower oil imports has risen from 49 per cent to 51 per cent during the same period. 

Fertiliser Imports from Russia (in million tonnes)
Variety	2022-23	2023-24	% Change
NP/NPKS	2.22	1.71	-23.0
DAP	0.92	0.34	-63.0
MOP	0.08	1.24	1450.0
Urea	0.63	1.57	149.2
Total Russia	3.85	4.86	26.2
Total All India	19.52	18.02	-7.7
%Share of Russia in All India	19.72	26.97	36.7

Source: Fertiliser Association of India   

Yellow Peas Imports from Russia
Items	2023-24	2024-25	% Change
From Russia	355790.12	671621	88.77
Total From All Countries*	2318587	2164582	-6.64

NOTE: From April-July 2025 India has already imported 90,000 tns of yellow peas from Russia which is 11 per cent of total peas imports from all sources 

*Only yellow peas

Source: Trade sources and iGrain India   

Crude soyoil and sunflower oil imports from Russia (in million tonnes)
Items	2024-25*	2023-24*	%Change
Crude Sunflower oil	1202984	1523319	-21.03
Crude Soyoil	192364	119806	60.56
Chart 4
Russia Share in India's Total Crude sunflower and crude soyoil
Items	2024-25*	2023-24*
Crude Sunflower Oil	51.19%	48.90%
Crude Soyoil	4.90%	4.41%

Source: Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA)  *From November 2024 to August 2025