Russia plans to revise the basic export price for grain amid problems in the agricultural sector

The Ministry of Agriculture of Russia is considering the possibility of revising the base export price, which is used to calculate the rates of customs duties on grain exports, before the start of the new agricultural season. This was stated by the head of the department of supply infrastructure of the department of regulation of agricultural markets of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, Sergey Smirnov, at the All-Russian Grain Forum.

According to Smirnov, export duties are a key instrument for regulating the grain market in Russia, and their abolition is not planned in the near future. At the same time, every year before the start of the new season, the Ministry of Agriculture proposes changes to the mechanism for calculating duties, in particular by adjusting the base export price. “I will not disclose specific plans for revising the base price before the new season, but there will probably be changes,” he noted.

The floating tariffs introduced in 2021 are 70% of the difference between the base and indicative prices, which are calculated weekly based on export contract prices registered on the Moscow Exchange.

Meanwhile, Russia’s agro-industrial complex is facing serious problems. According to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, in 2025, grain exports from Russia could fall by a third to 48–49 million tons compared to 72 million tons in 2024 and 68.6 million tons in 2023. Wheat exports could fall by 28% to 41–42 million tons. Such a decline threatens Russia with losing its leading position in the global grain market.

Russian farmers have repeatedly complained about insufficient support from the state, despite the Ministry of Agriculture’s statements that revenue from export duties would be directed to the development of the agricultural sector. According to the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Dmitry Patrushev, funds from customs duties are returned to the regions in proportion to the volume of grain production, but farmers note that they do not feel significant support.

These problems, together with plans to change the calculation of customs duties, may further complicate the situation for Russian grain exporters, who face increased competition and economic challenges in the global market.

Tags: Russia, export, grain, wheat