Russia's 20 mln tonne grain export quota goes into effect

MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Russia's grain export quota of 20 million tonnes went into effect on Sunday.

Under a government resolution signed in December 2025, the quota applies to exports of wheat, meslin, barley and corn outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The export quota for rye is zero.

The quota will be in effect until June 30, as usual. The Agriculture Ministry has distributed most of the quota among 213 companies.

Russia began imposing a quota for grain exports in 2020, when it was set at 7 million tonnes for the period from April 1 to June 30. The quota was 17.5 million tonnes from February 15 to June 30, 2021.

At the end of 2021, the government decided that the quota would be in effect annually from February 15 to June 30. It was 11 million tonnes in 2022, including 8 million tonnes of wheat; 25.5 million tonnes in 2023; 29 million tonnes in 2024; and 10.6 million tonnes in 2025.

Since 2024, the quota has been divided into the main and additional parts. The main part, 90%, is distributed according to the historical principle, as before. The additional amount consists of three parts: 10% of the total quota plus the amount that is exempt from the reduction factor (a percentage of the quota used up in the preceding period), plus the amount of the quota declined. Exporters to whom the main part of the quota was distributed by the historical principle can apply for the additional portion.