Russia Weighs Duty-Free Grain Exports Amid Port Disruptions
Russia is considering a moratorium on export duties for wheat, barley, and corn until the end of 2026 in an effort to support exporters and farmers facing higher logistics costs due to attacks on port infrastructure and navigation restrictions.
The Russian Agriculture Ministry is weighing the initiative amid significant capacity reductions at ports in the Azov-Black Sea basin, which are the main gateway for Russia's seaborne grain exports. The proposal involves introducing a duty-free period until the end of the year, allowing exporters to partially offset increased shipping costs.
The current export duties on wheat and corn have been rising despite falling domestic grain prices, with wheat duty increasing 2.2-fold to RUB 721/t in August. This has put additional pressure on Russian farmers and exporters, and a moratorium could improve their export economics.