ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA — Russian state bank VTB is considering purchasing a stake in Taman port grain terminal, further expanding its investment in the grain market, Reuters reported.

The bank wants to create a vertically-integrated player in the grain market, said Yuri Soloviev, first deputy chief executive.

On June 3, VTB said it was buying a controlling interest in RTC Group, a Russian railway holding company that transports a large amount of grain.

It also has purchased the Novorossiysk Grain Terminal and shares in the Novorossiysk Kombinat Khleboproduktov terminal and United Grain Company.