India emerges as major purchaser of Russian spinach

India was among the biggest importers of Russian spinach in 2025, alongside Belarus and the United Arab Emirates, according to preliminary estimates.

Russia increased its spinach exports eightfold year on year, reaching approximately 40 tonnes of the leafy green vegetable. Meanwhile, spinach export revenues showed even greater growth, increasing twelvefold to more than USD 240,000.

The Federal Centre for Agricultural Export Development (Agroexport) attributes the surge in demand to several factors. A key driver is the growing popularity of plant-based and vegan diets, which is feeding into a rise in global consumption of leafy greens. In addition, advances in packaging technologies have made it possible to extend shelf life, enabling longer-distance shipments with reduced spoilage risks.

Global food market dynamics also support continued growth potential. In 2024, the worldwide spinach market was valued at USD 60.6 billion, with total production estimated at around 34 million tonnes. By 2035, global supplies are expected to increase to 41 million tonnes, while the market value is projected to exceed USD 80 billion.

The expansion of spinach exports reflects a broader trend in Russian agricultural trade, as producers increasingly focus on diversifying export destinations and supplying higher value-added products to fast-growing markets in Asia.

Russia and India are actively expanding bilateral trade in food products. This article explores the opportunities the Russian market offers to Indian agribusiness companies.

Source: Interfax