Komsomolskaya Pravda:"Russian grain export ban to be lifted on July 1"
Viktor Zubkov confirmed that the market has been stabilised. Moreover, large amounts of grain from the south of Russia are available for export. Winter crops are in good condition. The spring sowing season is progressing at a good pace. Thus, there is no reason to extend the grain export ban.
Viktor Zubkov added that Russian intervention fund has over 6 million tonnes of grain. "If prices begin to go up, we can begin to apply customs and tariff regulation measures," he said.
Vladimir Putin approved the end of the grain export ban, but requested that Russia's "agricultural producers receive the support they need, as agriculture is a major sector of Russian economy." The grain export ban was imposed on August 2010 amid an unprecedented drought that decimated harvests in Russia. The aim was to prevent sharp increases in the price of food grain and animal feed on the domestic market, which would inevitably lead to higher prices for meat and milk.
Yelena Arakelyan
