September 12, 2011

Russia partially lifts ban on grain exports

Ban on grain exports to the port of Novorossiisk has been partially lifted, Russian Railways said on Friday (September 9).

On September 1, the ban had been lifted from shipments of one of the two Novorossiisk's terminals, the NZT, but kept it for the other, the state-controlled NKHP.

Russian Railways said as of September 8, around 2,029 wagons with grain were parked near the port, of which 867 were meant to unload at NZT terminal and 1.162 at NKHP. NZT was unloading an average of 196 wagons per day in September, while the rate at NKHP stood at 104.

Russian exporters rushed to ship grain after a nearly yearlong ban on grain shipments following last year's severe drought was lifted on July 1.

This has caused congestion on railway lines leading to Novorossiisk, prompting Russian Railways to impose a temporary ban on grain shipments to the port from Aug. 27.

Rusagrotrans, a unit of Russian railways, said on Thursday they expect the ban to be lifted on Sept. 15.