"It is a difficult, complex issue. Will Russia increase grain exports? The answer is yes, because Russia’s output is on the rise," Mikhail Orlov said.
Demand for grain in Egypt is on the rise in parallel to the country's growing population. Orlov said Russia needed to solve maritime freight and other logistical problems stemming from the West’s sanctions on Moscow.
"But Russia has a degree of resilience, so exports will continue," Orlov added.
Russia and Ukraine reached a UN- and Turkey-brokered deal in summer 2022 to facilitate exports of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and lift Western curbs on Russian grain and fertilizer exports. Russia has warned it may not extend the pact past the July 17 deadline as long as its export capacity remains constrained.