Libya has emerged as the third-largest African importer of Russian wheat during the first five months of 2025, as Russia significantly boosts its grain exports to the continent.
According to expert estimates, Russian wheat shipments to West African nations exceeded 580,000 tonnes between January and May 2025. This marks a 38% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024, underlining Russia’s growing role as a strategic food supplier to Africa.
Egypt and Sudan took the top two spots in terms of the value of Russian wheat imports, with Libya following closely in third place. The ranking reflects Libya’s increasing reliance on Russian grain to meet its food security needs amid ongoing challenges in domestic agricultural production and supply chain disruptions.
The broader expansion of Russian wheat exports includes a dramatic increase in shipments to Nigeria—up nearly threefold—while Togo has recently begun receiving Russian wheat for the first time.
Russia’s wheat diplomacy is gaining traction across the African continent, as it seeks to strengthen economic and geopolitical ties through essential food supplies. For Libya, this deepening trade relationship comes at a time when the country is striving to stabilise its economy and rebuild critical infrastructure.
Experts believe that Libya’s position in the top three importers highlights both a growing demand for affordable wheat and a strategic pivot towards alternative global suppliers, particularly in light of shifting international grain markets.
The trend is expected to continue, with Russian wheat becoming a more dominant feature in Libyan food imports in the second half of the year.
