Russian Milling Wheat — 12.5% Protein

Specification

The 12.5% protein grade is the premium milling specification used by Kenyan industrial bakers and the higher end of the wheat-flour blend. It commands a price premium of $10–25 per MT FOB over 11.5% protein.

The 11.5% milling grade is on a separate page; the 9–10.5% band is feed wheat in the Kenyan market and is on its own page — see wheat 11.5% protein and wheat 9–10.5% feed protein.

Origin and Corridor

Russian wheat exports to Kenya have grown rapidly year-on-year. The 2026 run-rate exceeds 500,000 MT annually, with Russia accounting for a leading share of Kenya's wheat imports by value (Indexbox / KNBS data, 2025–2026). The dominant export origins:

• Black Sea — Novorossiysk (the principal Russian grain export port) and Taman.
• Baltic — Vysotsk, the direct-Mombasa route formalised January 2026 with a 44,000-MT inaugural shipment.

Loadports

Tuapse withdrew from the corridor 23 April 2026 following the EU 20th sanctions package addition of Tuapse to its listed-ports schedule.

Volume

10,500–50,000 MT per shipment. Panamax (60–80,000 DWT) and Supramax (50–60,000 DWT) are the standard vessel classes for wheat into Mombasa.

Delivery Terms

FOB / CFR / CIF Mombasa. ASWP on bilateral agreement.

Payment

Standard term: TT MT103, 50% advance on contract signing, 50% on presentation of shipping documents at the port of departure. This is the Russian Black Sea grain-trade standard.

For larger or annual SPAs: irrevocable DLC under UCP 600 against shipping documents, with confirmation by a non-designated prime correspondent bank where the SPA requires.

For multi-shipment frame contracts: SBLC under ISP98 / URDG 758, TT settlement on each cargo.

The buyer's bank issues; the seller's bank advises or — where required — confirms. Sarpah is not on the instrument chain.

Application

Premium milling wheat at 12.5% protein is the input for industrial baking flour, bread flour and the upper end of household-flour blends. Kenyan industrial bakers and large wheat-millers use 12.5% protein as the protein-anchor in flour blends, often blending downward with 11.5% or 9–10.5% protein wheat to hit a target spec for white bread (typically 11.0–11.5% protein) or industrial baking flour (typically 12.0–13.0% protein).

For pastry and biscuit manufacturing, lower-protein grades are preferred. For chapati and rotis (a significant segment of the Kenyan flour market), medium-protein blends balanced from 12.5% and 9.5% are standard.

Compliance

• KEPHIS Import Permit lodged via the KEPHIS Online Permit System in advance of shipment; 90-day validity.
• Phytosanitary Certificate issued by Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian NPPO) dated within 14 days of vessel sailing. Compliance with IPPC ISPM-12 standards and Kenyan Plant Protection Act Cap 324.
• Fumigation Certificate at load port — methyl bromide or phosphine treatment per the KEPHIS import permit.
• KEBS Certificate of Conformity at load port (SGS at Novorossiysk, Taman, Vysotsk).
• Certificate of Origin from the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Certificate of Analysis at load port (protein, moisture, test weight, foreign matter, falling number).
• Certificate of Weight by independent surveyor at load port — typically draft survey or weighbridge.
• EAC CET: HS 1001.99.10 / 1001.99.90 (wheat, other than seed). Base CET rate 35%, with Kenya's stay of application of 10% routinely renewed annually under EAC Pre-Budget Gazette. Effective duty: 10%. For the 2025/26 cycle the 10% wheat duty remission is conditional on millers' prior local-wheat purchase under EAC Council direction; per-cargo eligibility is verified against the buyer's Kenya wheat purchase log. VAT: zero-rated (unprocessed agricultural produce, Second Schedule, VAT Act 2013). IDF 2.5% of CIF. Railway Development Levy 2.0% of CIF. AFA Cess on cereals at 1% of CIF (per AFA Regulations).
• Sanctions: Russian-origin grain with non-designated counterparties is carved out under US (OFAC GL 6D, June 2024), UK (OFSI agricultural licences) and EU (Council Regulation 833/2014 recital and Article 12b derogations on food security; Article 5aa(3)(a)). Counterparty screening at onboarding, pre-shipment and pre-payment against OFAC SDN, OFSI Consolidated, EU CFSP and UN Security Council Sanctions Lists is standard.

Discharge

Mombasa bulk grain handling at Berth 3 (Bulk Grain Handling Facility — pneumatic discharge, 600 MT/hr) or the Grain Bulk Handlers Ltd (GBHL) terminal under KPA concession (12,000–14,400 MT per working day across two Bühler Portalino lines). Free storage per KPA Tariff Book 2025 (effective 22 December 2025): 4 days domestic / 15 days transit for containers; bulk grain at the GBHL/Portside concession operates under separate concession terms. Storage charge after free period: USD 1.50 per MT per day, days 10–20.

Buyer Universe

For tender opportunities through these millers, multi-shipment SPAs are the typical structure — three to six 25,000–50,000 MT cargoes per year against an annual frame contract.

Procurement Profile

Indicative Pricing

Indicative pricing on enquiry — see /buyer-process. Per-cargo quote on enquiry.

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