Regional Disproportions in Russian Exports of Agricultural Products to African Countries

Abstract

The article attempts to analyze current problems associated with the disproportion of agricultural exports to African countries from various regions of Russia. The need to develop new methods and routes for transporting agricultural products and increasing the production of agricultural products in the regions of Russia is emphasized. The possibilities of spatial development of the country’s agro-industrial production are identified. It has been established that against the backdrop of a small share (about 3%) of African countries in Russian exports (low base effect) and the current geopolitical situation, we can expect a greater extent of the realization of the export-import potential of relations between Russia and African countries. This is confirmed by a more than double increase in the volume of exports of Russian agricultural products to African countries over the past decade. It was determined that this growth has occurred against the background of a decrease in the level of spatial diversification: firstly, the main (99%) part of the products is exported to Africa from the Southern, Central and Northwestern Federal Districts of Russia; secondly, while in 2021 the share of the four leading African countries in the structure of “recipients” of Russian agricultural products was 63.8%, a year later it was already 81.8%. Each of them increased its share at the expense of other African countries: thus, there was an increase in the targeting of Russian agricultural exports primarily to the countries of North Africa. It is assumed that one of the possible spatial solutions for increasing exports to African countries could be the further development of the North – South transport corridor, as well as railway routes from Siberia with a focus on ports of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.