Russia is planning to export half a million tonnes of grain to China for this year, Alexander Tkachev, Russian Agriculture Minister, said on Saturday (June 25).

"China opened the grain market for us. We were let in and now the market will decide [on the volume]. Around half a million tonnes may be, wheat, barley. Grains. Half a million this year," he said.

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Other than shipping in grain, wheat, and barley, the country is also in talks to supply the mainland's meat industry, with Tkachev saying, "we have long been in active talks with the Chinese about supplies to the Chinese meat product market - pork, beef, poultry. It's a promising area."

The Russian minister further said that "the meat market...will be a very serious breakthrough."

He continued explaining that other nations have been trading in China's meat market, including the United States, European Countries, New Zealand, and Australia.

"Everyone except Russia, because previously we were not even seen as exporters. We [have] always imported meat, as we did [with] grain during the Soviet era," he said.

Russia plans to initially supply two to three million tonnes of grain annually to China through its grain hub, which will be constructed in Siberia, the ministry revealed on Friday.

The construction of the storage hub will begin in September, said Sergei Levin, deputy of agriculture. Following its completion, the project's annual capacity will then increase to eight million tonnes per year.

Meanwhile, Russian government officials spearheaded by President Vladmir Putin are on an official visit in China.

TagsRussia, china, grain, export, meat market, trading