ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
International relations

Russian food industry's pivot to China sows rewards and risks

Far East soybean ambitions raise concerns of overproduction and overdependence

Imported soybeans in China: The Russian Far East is seen as a promising source of the staple.   © Reuters

MOSCOW -- Food trade with China is generating billions of dollars worth of business for Russia and quietly becoming a major part of President Vladimir Putin's drive to tighten ties with Beijing. Central to the strategy is the Russian Far East, a region in the spotlight this week as Vladivostok hosts the Eastern Economic Forum to drum up investment.

Over the past several years, Russia has more than doubled its food exports to China amid rising trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Moscow has also leased out hundreds of thousands of hectares of Far East farmland to Chinese companies.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more