Russia Lifts Ban On Flour Exports
(RTTNews) - Russia has prematurely lifted a ban on the export of flour and other agriculture products made from grain, responding to appeals from flour mill owners who fear losing their clients abroad.
Severe drought and ensuing wildfires in Russia in August last year had prompted the government to announce a year-long ban on the export of wheat, barley, rye, corn, wheat and wheat-rye flour.
The ban was later extended by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to June 30, 2011 to "prevent domestic prices from rising, preserve cattle herds and build up reserves for the following year."
As the government decided to ease the ban from January 1, Russian mill owners are able to export flour to their main customers such as Mongolia, Afghanistan, South Korea, Israel, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Moldova, and Thailand.
Russia is the world's third-biggest grower of wheat, and one of the world's largest grain exporters.
Russia's worst drought in half a century spiraled wheat prices, and cut yields drastically, forcing the Agriculture Ministry to draw down its 2010 grain forecast to 70-75 million tons from 90 million tons.
The country's worst heat wave in the last 130 years and drought triggered widespread wildfires that raged across central Russia and along the Volga River for days.
The inferno killed 53 people and rendered more than 3,500 people homeless, causing damages worth about $15 billion.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com
Severe drought and ensuing wildfires in Russia in August last year had prompted the government to announce a year-long ban on the export of wheat, barley, rye, corn, wheat and wheat-rye flour.
The ban was later extended by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to June 30, 2011 to "prevent domestic prices from rising, preserve cattle herds and build up reserves for the following year."
As the government decided to ease the ban from January 1, Russian mill owners are able to export flour to their main customers such as Mongolia, Afghanistan, South Korea, Israel, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Moldova, and Thailand.
Russia is the world's third-biggest grower of wheat, and one of the world's largest grain exporters.
Russia's worst drought in half a century spiraled wheat prices, and cut yields drastically, forcing the Agriculture Ministry to draw down its 2010 grain forecast to 70-75 million tons from 90 million tons.
The country's worst heat wave in the last 130 years and drought triggered widespread wildfires that raged across central Russia and along the Volga River for days.
The inferno killed 53 people and rendered more than 3,500 people homeless, causing damages worth about $15 billion.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com
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