DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORT IN THE REPUBLIC OF BURYATIA: TRENDS AND POTENTIAL

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the development of agricultural exports in the Republic of Buryatia within the context of the nationwide "Export of Agricultural Products" project. Despite an achieved 28.4% growth in the total volume of agricultural exports over the 2022-2024 period, the study identifies a key structural problem. This growth is primarily driven by transit operations, while the export of locally produced agricultural goods shows signs of stagnation and a projected decline. The authors identify a phenomenon of "stagnating exports" amidst dynamic growth in transit. The analysis of the export structure reveals its extreme concentration in terms of both product type and geography. The dominance of rapeseed oil and meal, targeted almost exclusively at the Chinese market, along with meat products supplied to Mongolia, creates significant risks for the sustainable development of the regional agricultural sector. Based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Buryatia and employing comparative and structural analysis methods, the authors propose directions for strategic adjustments. The priorities should be the diversification of the export portfolio through high-value-added products, such as marbled beef, deep-frozen lamb, products from free-grazing horse meat, as well as wild forest products and seedlings. To achieve the national strategic targets by 2030, active efforts are needed to access new markets in Southeast Asian countries and to integrate transit flows with the local production base to create hybrid export commodities.