Senator: Russia may prolong wheat export ban if necessary

MOSCOW, Apr 30 (PRIME) -- Russia can prolong its wheat exports ban, if it is in high demand in the country, Alexei Mayorov, head of the agrarian committee of the parliament’s upper chamber Federation Council, told PRIME on Thursday.

“Russia is taking measures to protect its own food market. We’ve already introduced a ban on exports of wheat, and the existing restrictions may be prolonged if there is certain demand for it in the country,” he said.

On March 31, the Russian government introduced an export quota of 7 million tonnes on exports of wheat, rye, barley, and corn to the countries outside the Eurasian Economic Union until June 30. According to the ministry, Russian exporters used the entire quota as of April 26, so exports of grain were suspended until July 1.

Mayorov said that the global pandemic affects all countries, but Russia has enough reserves to cover demand with domestic food, starvation is impossible. Forecasts of experts say that this summer will be dry, but government measures will provide Russians with food.

“Under the current conditions of low oil prices and a high exchange rate of the U.S. dollar, a slight increase in prices of up to 10% may happen only for imported food. Domestic food production will completely cover Russians’ demand,” he said.

He also said that the Russian association of tomato producers had asked the government to suspend imports of tomatoes from Azerbaijan and Turkey over falling demand. The government is yet to make a decision, he said.

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