First grain consignment from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan 

ArmInfo.  Russia has made the first grain shipment to Armenia via a new railway route through Azerbaijan, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture told RIA Novosti.

"A train carrying the first batch of Russian grain delivered via the  new railway route through Azerbaijan has arrived in Armenia," the  statement read.

The ministry clarified that 1,000 tons of third-class wheat from the  Ulyanovsk region, shipped by the company Grain Gates, was  transported.

The shipment was made in cooperation with Russian Railways. The  Ministry of Agriculture notes that the development of this route  opens up additional opportunities for increasing export volumes to  the countries of the South Caucasus.

The ministry explained that previously, Russian exports to Armenia  were primarily carried out by road through the land border crossing  and by sea through Georgian ports. "Armenia imports approximately  450,000-500,000 tons of grain per year. Almost 100% of this volume  comes from Russia. The new route provides transit through Azerbaijan  and Georgia, which reduces transportation costs and improves supply  stability," the statement added.

The ministry noted that rail shipments were resumed following  Azerbaijan's decision to lift restrictions on freight traffic to  Armenia. Such agreements were reached in October of this year with  the participation of the governments of Russia, Azerbaijan, and  Armenia. "This opened the possibility of direct shipments of Russian  agricultural products to Armenia by rail for the first time since the  early 1990s," the ministry stated.

In turn, the Russian Ministry of Transport reported that Russia plans  to send an additional 132 wagons of wheat to Armenia via the new rail  route through Azerbaijan by the end of January 2026. "The first batch  of grain was sent to Armenia via Azerbaijan by rail. Russian Railways  organized the shipment of over 1,000 tons of wheat from Dimitrovgrad  station in the Ulyanovsk region to Armenia. An additional 132  railcars of wheat are planned to be sent along this route by the end  of January 2026. Shipments of other cargo categories are also being  considered," the statement reads.