Russia halts grain exports to some countries to secure food supply

Russia introduces a temporary ban on exports of grain, of which it is a major supplier, to four former Soviet countries to secure domestic supplies and avoid a spike in prices.

“Russia is introducing a temporary ban on the exportation of grains to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union,” the government’s press service says in a statement.

The EEU is a Moscow-led trade club of ex-Soviet republics, which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

The Russian government also says it will stop exports of both “white and raw cane sugar to third countries.”

The restrictions on grain exports expire on June 30 and those on sugar on August 31, the government said, adding that the decision was taken “to protect the domestic food market given the situation of external restrictions.”

Western nations have imposed a spate of sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine that make it difficult to import goods into the country.

For several days, some Russian supermarkets have imposed limits on how much people can buy of several products, including sugar.

Images of empty shelves have circulated on social networks but visits by AFP journalists to a selection of food shops did not find any shortages.

According to Russia’s national statistics agency, Rosstat, the price of sugar jumped by 13 percent over the week of March 5-11.

In countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, sugar has largely disappeared from the shelves and its price has doubled.

The Russian restrictions on grain exports include wheat, rye, barley and corn, as well as silage.

Both Russia and Ukraine are major wheat exporters and the conflict has already sent waves through global commodities markets and seen prices for grain climb precipitously.