Russia plans to hold the title of the world’s leading exporter of wheat in the new agricultural year, exporting 25 million tons of wheat, reported the Russian news agency Sputnik on Thursday, quoting Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev.

“We have actually become the leaders by passing both Canada and America. Of course, we plan to hold the first place [in the new agricultural year] with almost 25 million tons of wheat exports. Markets, both new and old, are opening for us," he said.

"Of course, this is traditionally the Chinese market and we’re currently working on that. This is of course both Japan and South Korea, as well as the countries of North America, the Arab world, and the Arabian Gulf,” Tkachev told journalists at the SIAL China exhibition in Shanghai.