Russia may consider lifting a grain export ban only after harvesting 2011's crops, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"In order to not to create an unnecessary anxiety, to ensure a stable and predictable business environment for all market participants, I should note that we may consider the abolition of the grain export ban only after we have harvested next year's crops and there is clarity about the grain balance," Putin told a cabinet meeting.
This summer Russia has experienced its worst ever drought which killed a quarter of its crops and forced the government to ban grain exports from August 15 to December 31. The government has not yet announced any extension of the current export ban into next year.
In the 2010 agricultural season, Russia exported 21.4 million tons of grain and about three million tons since the beginning of the new season.
MOSCOW, Sept 2 (RIA Novosti)
