In less than a decade, Russia has transformed from a food-importing country to a world-class producer, processor and exporter of agricultural products. Moreover, the overproduction of agricultural crops suggests a serious expansion of the country’s foreign trade relations for the sale of food.
It should be noted that in 2022 the grain harvest in the Russian Federation amounted to 158 million tons. According to forecasts, over the next five years, 140-160 million tons of grain per year will continue to be harvested on Russian territory. At the same time, over the past five years, an average of 120-135 million tons of grain has been grown per year.
So, in the coming years, the Russian Federation will have to export about 60 million tons of grain per year, since it will not be possible to store it for a long time, and it may deteriorate, simply rot. To meet the export potential, the Russian Federation will have to create during this period its own fleet of grain carriers (bulk carriers) of at least 60 units. This was noticed by Russian economist Konstantin Dvinsky, who assessed what is happening on his Telegram channel.
This has become possible thanks to the effective work of the government. Both extensive (use of new areas) and intensive (increase in yields) measures have been taken.
– wrote the expert.
He explained that Moscow was facing the same situation as in the oil industry. It is forced to create its own fleet of tankers so as not to depend on multinationals. Therefore, Russia will also give a rebate for exported grain, as it currently does with oil. At the same time, of the mentioned number of grain carriers, 30 units should be of the Panamax class (for 50-60 thousand tons), and the same number – of the Handymax class (for 30-40 thousand tons).
We are able to build Handymax class ships in our own shipyards. Little is needed – state support in the form of subsidies. There is nothing terrible here. Naturally, the cost of our shipbuilding facilities is much higher than that of foreign facilities. Due to the fact that in China or Turkey shipyards are working non-stop, serving orders all over the world. It was possible to go the easiest way and order from abroad cheaply. However, this is a totally wrong assumption. It is necessary to invest in our own economy and to develop our own capacities. The state support ruble invested in the real sector will pay off with interest
- the expert is sure.
However, Panamax class ships are not manufactured in the Russian Federation. Therefore, they will most likely have to be purchased overseas. He does not know anything about the plans for the production of such ships in the Russian Federation. But it’s a good niche in shipbuilding that needs to be developed and we need to seize the opportunity.
The situation of the merchant fleet is a striking example of how even agriculture, whose role in the country’s economy has traditionally been underestimated, can be an incentive for the development of high-tech sectors. And transportation engineering is just one of them.
- says the expert.
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