October 5, 2010

Russian leader signs grain export ban decree

The Russian president has signed a decree ordering the government to submit proposals on whether the current ban on the export of grain should be continued.

"The government is by November 15 to analyse the results of this year's grain harvest and the amount of grain stocks in the country and to submit proposals on the advisability of the continuation of the ban on the export of grain," the decree said.

The government has banned the export of Russian grain because of severe drought. The ban is to last officially until December 31 this year. The drought has resulted in Russia's grain harvest this year falling to 60-65 million tonnes, according to the agriculture ministry's estimates, from 97.1 million tonnes last year.

Agriculture Minister Elena Skrynnik said Friday (Oct 1) that Russia has harvested 60.1 million tonnes of grain to date, and another three million tonnes are due to be harvested.