In a bid to bolster food security and stabilize the prices of durum wheat products domestically, Russia has implemented a ban on the export of hard wheat until May 31, 2024.
The regulation took effect on December 1, as confirmed by the government’s website.
The ban was mandated by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax.
Exceptions to the ban encompass shipments designated for global humanitarian aid or governed by international inter-governmental agreements. Additionally, exports to South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the South Caucasus region, along with grain transported as supplies, are also allowed.
Countries belonging to the Eurasian Economic Union, such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, are eligible to receive durum wheat exports with the condition of obtaining permits from the Agriculture Ministry.
As per Interfax, the Russian Agriculture Ministry reported that global hard wheat harvests had reached “20-year lows in most producing countries,” leading to an increase in demand for the products.
The ministry further stated that the imposition of the ban aims to ensure a stable supply of durum wheat for the country’s pasta manufacturers.
The ministry mentioned that Russia also plans to expand its hard wheat cultivation areas and increase production annually.
The ministry initially proposed a ban on hard wheat exports last month, a proposal that received backing from Russia’s customs sub-committee.
The initial draft proposal aimed to implement the ban for a complete six-month period, starting from December 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.
As reported by Interfax, the Russian Grain Union discovered that exports of hard wheat surged by 13 times from July 1 to November 10, 2023, reaching 657,000 tonnes. The majority of this wheat was shipped to countries like Italy and Turkey.
The increase in exports is thought to result from Russia’s grain damper policy implemented in 2021, which imposes a floating export duty on wheat, corn, and barley. This policy has led to a decrease in the proportion of the duty in the prices of hard wheat, according to reports.
Earlier this year, Russia decided against renewing its Black Sea Grain Deal, which had facilitated the secure transportation of various grains, including wheat, from three Ukrainian ports. The termination of the deal was attributed to the assertion that impediments related to its own food and fertilizer shipments had not been addressed before the expiration date on July 17.