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Latvia enters top five Russian grain routes as exports shift to Baltic

Russian grain is moving increasingly through Baltic ports as Latvia considers restricting transit alongside its existing import ban.

By NewsdeskPublished 25 Oct 2026, 01:341 min read

Latvia enters top five Russian grain routes as exports shift to BalticCredit: Photo: gCaptain

Latvia has become one of the five leading countries through which Russian grain has been shipped this marketing season, as Moscow shifts export traffic towards the Baltic. Despite strained relations with the EU and NATO member, about 431,700 tonnes moved via Latvia between July and October, according to consultancy ProZerno figures cited in a Reuters report published by gCaptain.

The Latvian foreign ministry said the country had prohibited Russian grain imports since 2024, but had not yet imposed a transit ban. It said the government was working towards such a restriction, either through European Union action or a national measure. The distinction leaves Latvia available as a route for Russian grain moving onwards, despite the prohibition on imports.

The shift follows a broad interruption to shipments through the Azov-Black Sea basin, traditionally Russia’s principal grain export corridor, from mid-August. Deep-water ports on the Baltic have since become the leading outlet, especially for wheat. Railway operator and grain analyst Rusagrotrans put the Baltic route’s share of Russian grain exports in September at 65%, according to the report.

Those shipments are passing through both Russia’s own Baltic ports and ports in the Baltic states, predominantly Latvia. Estonia has already barred Russian grain transit across its territory. Earlier in October, the Baltic states also proposed an EU-wide prohibition on Russian grain exports passing through the bloc, putting the regional export route under further policy scrutiny.

Meanwhile, grain movements through the Caspian Sea have increased sharply, with Iran receiving most of those cargoes. Iran was the largest buyer of Russian grain over July-October, taking 1.716 million tonnes, supported by substantial barley and maize purchases. ProZerno put Egypt’s purchases at 1.35 million tonnes; the country had previously been Russia’s largest wheat importer and a major Black Sea destination. Azerbaijan took 545,000 tonnes and Nigeria 420,900 tonnes, placing both among the season’s five largest buyers.

TagsLatvia Baltic Ports Grain Trade Russia

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Filed 25 October 2026

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