First shipment starts the partnership
RZD Logistics has arranged the first consignment in its cooperation with Armaz: vegetable oil from Russia’s Novosibirsk to Armenia by rail. The partners are considering regular shipments, according to the Russian Railways subsidiary’s press service. The consignment’s volume, packaging and a timetable for regular services were not disclosed.
Armaz commissioned an agricultural-processing complex in 2025. Its pressing and extraction shop has capacity of 72,000 tonnes annually; total enterprise capacity was not disclosed. The producer has operated since 1997 and owns a vehicle fleet, loading facilities and a railway siding.
Its supply geography covers nine countries. Co-owners Georgy Solomatin and Oksana Denisova hold 88.54% and 11.46%, respectively. Interfax reported the shipment on Oct 21, 2026.
An established export business
Armaz was already developing overseas sales before this rail partnership. In November 2024, the producer presented its vegetable oils at the Made in Russia festival and fair in Chengdu, Sichuan. Its range extended beyond sunflower oil to several other crops:
- Rapeseed and soybean oils.
- Mustard, flax and corn oils.
At that time, economic-promotion manager Ramiz Kadyrov put monthly exports above 1,000 tonnes. He described shipments to China for a third consecutive year, regular business with North Korea and the start of South Korean sales in 2024. He also identified demand in Mongolia and Vietnam and supplies across most CIS countries.
The Asian business included refined and unrefined oils. Armaz also began exporting household and bath soap made from its own raw materials in 2024. Negotiations with prospective partners in the UAE and Egypt were then underway. For 2023, the company had revenue of about 2.4 billion rubles and net profit of approximately 40 million rubles.
Earlier export handling and packaging
In July 2023, Armaz was loading bulk oil for China into reinforced, multilayer polyethylene liners fitted inside freight containers. The oil could be pumped out at its destination without returning the packaging. Solomatin described using rail border crossings and supplying both raw material and finished products. Armaz also counted Armenia among its export markets at that time.
Packaging for individual markets
For Chinese buyers, the company operated a separate conveyor and used five-litre bottles with two-component closures incorporating an internal ring. These differed from the screw caps used on five-litre bottles for Russian customers. Solomatin explained that the packaging had been adapted to Chinese preferences. The company also bottled oils for domestic retail chains including Maria-Ra, Lenta, Yarche and Pyaterochka. These handling and packaging arrangements were established before the new cooperation with RZD Logistics.
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