ASTANA, April 7 (RIA Novosti) - Kazakhstan may introduce grain export duties or ban grain exports completely to protect the domestic market, Prime Minister Karim Masimov told a government conference on Monday.

"I will instruct the Agriculture Ministry and the Industry Ministry to consider imposing grain export duties or a ban on grain exports," Masimov said.

Any grain export restrictions would be aimed at protecting the Kazakh market from grain shortages.

Kazakhstan, which is one of the world's top five grain exporters and the world's largest flour exporter, last considered introducing grain export duties in March. The news was followed by a 25% increase in grain prices on global markets.

Major Kazakh grain exporters have recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Agriculture Ministry to ensure grain supplies to the domestic market at fixed prices. The ex-Soviet republic has stabilized domestic bread prices against the background of soaring grain prices around the world.

A ban on wheat exports, to expire on April 30, has been in force in Russia since late February.