Top 10 African countries Russia makes the most money from

Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the largest business relationship with Russia.
This list is courtesy of data from Russia Pivot to Asia.
Egypt ranks number 1 on the list.

As recently reported, Russia's food shipments to Africa increased significantly in 2024 by 19% to over $7 billion.

A statement released to this effect read, "Experts estimate that Russian agricultural exports to Africa in 2024 exceeded $7 billion, marking a 19% increase compared to 2023. Domestic food products were supplied to 45 countries on the continent.”

A broader look at this signifies that Russia’s overall trade in Africa, in the same year, increased to a record of US$24.5 billion.

This milestone, as per Russia’s Pivot to Asia, a Russian news portal, represents an all-new high for both parties, as European countries are slowly pushed out of Africa, in place of Russia, which continues to expand its influence on the continent.

“Of the US$24.5 billion, according to Russia’s Federal Customs Service, Russian exports to Africa totalled US$21.2 billion, an increase of 43% in value over 2023 data,” the news portal states.

“Data from the Russian Export Centre (REC) shows that key exports included machinery, grain, and hydrocarbon fuels, essential resources for many African economies,” it adds.

As per food trade, Africa currently accounts for half of the Russian wheat market, demonstrating the continent's strategic importance in Moscow's agricultural export policy.

Russian grains sent to Africa Google

The reliance on Russian wheat has increased due to several causes, including Africa's growing population, the demand for inexpensive food supplies, and the competitive price of Russian agricultural commodities.

Outside of just trade, Russia has been expanding its military footprint in Africa, as its defense pact on the continent sees massive growth in the Sahel region.

Given that Moscow has prioritized Africa in its global trade strategy, it is projected that Russia's exports to the continent will continue to increase.

With that said, here are the top 10 largest Russian trade partners in Africa.