Russia will suspend export duties on wheat, barley, and corn starting August 13, in a move that could influence global grain trade and feed prices. The zero-duty rates will remain in effect until August 19.

According to the Russia-based Interfax news agency, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture announced, following its weekly calculation, that export duties on wheat, barley, and corn will be set to zero starting August 13. Before this adjustment, the duty on wheat stood at 19.4 rubles per tonne, while corn faced a rate of 371.5 rubles. Barley had already been exempt from duties for an extended period.

The decision is based on indicative export prices of $223.5 per tonne for wheat, $199.7 for barley, and $220 for corn. These figures mark slight changes from the previous week.

Russia introduced its “grain damper mechanism” in June 2021, imposing floating duties on wheat, corn, and barley exports, with proceeds directed to subsidies for agricultural producers. The duty, calculated weekly from Moscow Exchange contract prices, equals 70% of the difference between a reference and an indicative price.

Reference prices have been revised several times, most recently on July 24, 2025, when the base price for barley was raised to 17,875 rubles per tonne, while the wheat reference price remained at 18,000 rubles.