October 5, 2010
 

Russia's grain export ban to remain until July

Resumption of grain exports cannot be considered yet ahead of winter, said First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkoy.

"It is not worth raising the issue before transition to the new season - until July 1, 2011," Zubkov said.

Last month, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia would not lift a ban on grain exports before next year's harvest. He did not give a specific timeline however.

Agriculture experts said at the time that the ban would not be lifted until at least July 2011 when farmers begin harvesting in the country's south and the government would have an idea of the amount grown.

Putin initially banned grain exports from August 15 to the end of this year as Russia saw its harvest decimated by the worst drought in years.