Russia said on Wednesday it has set its grain-export quota, which protects the domestic market, at an expected 20 million metric tons for the second half of the marketing season, which runs from February 15 to June 30, 2026.

Taking into account volumes already exported, the new figures suggest Russia, the world’s biggest wheat exporter, is on track to meet its target of between 53 million and 55 million tons of grain in the current marketing season.

“The decision will make it possible to maintain an optimal balance between the domestic grain market and exports. It was made taking into account forecast indicators of grain production and consumption in the Russian market,” the government said.

Russia allows quota-free exports in the first part of the marketing season from July to February. Quotas then kick in for the rest of the season and are distributed among exporters on the basis of their performance.

The new quota will apply to wheat, barley, corn and meslin. The government banned exports of rye in the second part of the season. Last year, the quota was set at 10.6 million tons and applied only to wheat and meslin.
Analysts at rail carrier Rusagrotrans estimated wheat exports in the first part of the season from July to December to be 25.5 million tons, down from a record 29.1 million a year earlier.

Russia exported 53 million tons of grain in the 2024/25 season, including 44 million tons of wheat.

Rusagrotrans said that Egypt, which imported 4.8 million tons of wheat in the current season, remains Russia’s largest customer, followed by Turkey, Iran, Bangladesh and Libya.

Russian grain exports have slowed sharply in the last two seasons from a record 70 million tons in 2023-2024, undermining President Vladimir Putin’s goal of increasing agricultural exports by 50% by 2030.
Source: Reuters