Big Russian flax plant is another threat to Canada

Russia is bolstering its presence in the flax market in a big way.

A major crush plant is set to open in that country. ASVA is building the facility in the city of Azov in Russia’s Rostov region.

ASVA is a joint project of ASTON, one of the largest food product and food ingredients manufacturers in Russia, and Vandeputte Huilerie SA, a Belgian flax processor.

It will be the largest flax processing plant in Europe, capable of processing 148,500 tonnes of the oilseed per year, said reports from the press service RBC Rostov.

To put that in perspective, Canada is expected to export 225,000 tonnes of the oilseed globally in 2025-26.

Once up and running the plant will produce 53,500 tonnes of flax oil and 90,000 tonnes of flax cake per year.

The plant is already processing seed from the 2025 crop in commissioning mode, Igor Burakov, general director of the Investment Development Agency of the Rostov Region, told RBC Rostov.

“The investor intends to export at least 70 per cent of the products to China, Turkey and the Middle East,” he said.

Russia’s Fat and Oil Union said Sodrugestvo Group of Companies, the largest oilseed crusher in Russia, is planning to build a similar-sized flax crush plant in the country.