Russia to Supply Meat and Grain to Indonesia

Logistics industry players have set ambitious goals for Indonesian cooperation. "We see potential across numerous sectors. We can supply grain, fish, seafood, and—should current restrictions be lifted—meat products as well," said Veronika Nikishina, head of the Russian Export Center, speaking at the Russia-Indonesia Business Forum held April 14-15 in Jakarta.
Bilateral trade was also on the agenda during the April 15 meeting of the Russian-Indonesian Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, co-chaired by Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. Officials highlighted that trade between the two nations has surged by over 80% in the past five years, reaching $4.3 billion in 2024. This growth has propelled Indonesia into Russia's top three trading partners within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"Nevertheless, the potential for collaboration extends far beyond current levels. The business community has shown concrete interest in expanding mutually beneficial partnerships. We anticipate beginning shipments of halal-certified meat products in the near future," stated Denis Manturov. Russian grain exports to Indonesia had already resumed in 2023.
Russian logistics providers are fully equipped to execute these plans. Speaking at the forum's plenary session, Sergey Shishkarev, Chairman of the Board at Delo Group, confirmed the company's readiness to scale up grain exports to Indonesia through its dedicated KSK terminal in Novorossiysk.

Meat exports to Indonesia could be facilitated through the "Meat Shuttle" service, which FESCO Transport Group launched last year to deliver Russian products to China and Southeast Asian markets in refrigerated containers, according to FESCO's press office. The logistics route is already technically operational. A company spokesperson indicated that Indonesia represents one of the most viable and promising markets where regular shipments of Russian meat products could be quickly established using this service.
The Asia-Pacific region dominates as the primary destination for Russian meat exports, according to data from Russian Railways' Center for Corporate Transport Services. First-quarter meat and meat product exports via Russian Railways' network grew by 26% year-on-year, reaching 38,100 tons. The export mix consists of meat by-products (44%), pork (25%), beef (17%), and poultry (13%). Currently, over 98% of these shipments are destined for China.
Nearly 90% of these exports flow through Far Eastern seaports, with border crossings—predominantly with Kazakhstan—accounting for just 10% of the volume. Representatives from the Center for Corporate Transport Services project that most patterns observed during the first quarter will likely persist throughout 2025.