One Of Russia's Major Agricultural Regions Has Declared A State Of Emergency

Because it is impossible to export the grain.

The Rostov Region—one of Russia’s major agricultural regions, which accounts for nearly 10% of the country’s grain harvest—will declare a state of emergency starting August 28, the regional government announced on Friday.

Due to drone attacks, the ports on the Sea of Azov—through which up to 1.5 million metric tons of Russian grain were shipped for export each month—have been shut down since mid-July. This has led to “a buildup of significant volumes of agricultural produce among agricultural producers,” according to “Interfax” cites an order by Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar.

The current situation could “lead to a disruption in people’s livelihoods and significant material losses,” the document states.

The economic situation for farmers “looks very bad,” and “shipments in the Azov Basin have come to a complete halt,” states Arkady Zlochevsky , president of the Russian Grain Union . Following the Azov ports, the largest grain terminals on the Black Sea, which were also targeted by drones, halted operations in August.

As a result, more than 80% of Russia’s grain export capacity has been paralyzed. In August, according to Sovekon’s estimates, wheat exports fell to a 16-year low of 1.9 million metric tons. Compared to August 2025, volumes fell by a factor of 2.3, and compared to the 5-year average, by a factor of 2.6.

The Russian Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to begin state grain purchases and is also exploring alternative export routes, including ports on the Arctic Ocean. But Zlochevsky believes there are no viable alternatives. To export grain via the Baltic Sea, one would need to use ports in Latvia and Lithuania—if they agree to let the cargo through at all—and St. Petersburg’s Vysotsky Grain Terminal has limited capacity—3 million metric tons per year, he notes. Normally, more grain is exported in a single month through the Black Sea ports.

Overflowing grain elevators and the inability to sell grain are driving down domestic prices, forcing farmers to sell their harvest for a pittance. The average price of Grade 4 wheat in the European part of Russia fell last week to 8,575 rubles per metric ton excluding VAT, which is 35% lower than at the start of the season, notes “Sovecon.”

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