Bread place: why the export duty on grain has increased
Since August 19, the export duty on grain has increased sharply in Russia: for the export of wheat — by 2.2 times, corn — by 2.7. What is the reason for the jump in the rate, why a grain damper is needed, how tariffs affect the domestic market and physical exports — in the Izvestia material.
Twice
The duty on wheat exports from the Russian Federation from August 19 will amount to 721.1 rubles per ton. Thus, it will increase 2.2 times compared to the previous one (until August 18) — 326.6 rubles per ton. The duty on corn exports will increase to 284 rubles from 105 rubles per ton, while the duty on barley exports will remain at zero. These duties will be valid until August 25 inclusive.
The grain damper mechanism has been in effect in Russia since June 2, 2021. It provides for floating duties on exports of wheat, corn and barley and the return of funds received from them to subsidize agricultural producers.
The rate is recalculated weekly depending on the indicative export price. According to the current mechanism, the fee is 70% of the excess of the base price over the indicative one.
Formula and course
At the same time, the indicative price of wheat has changed slightly — from $230 to $231.2 per ton. The indicative price is a calculated indicator used to determine the export duty. It is formed on the basis of the prices of export contracts for Russian grain registered on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
Experts explain the two-fold increase in the duty by the currency component of the formula.
— The calculation takes into account the average dollar exchange rate of the Bank of Russia for five business days. The duty is 70% of the difference between the ruble indicative price and the base price, which for wheat is set at 18 thousand rubles per ton. Therefore, with a relatively small duty, even a moderate weakening of the ruble can result in an impressive percentage increase," explains Anna Ovsyannikova, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Data Analysis at the Faculty of Information Technology and Big Data Analysis at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
Stabilization measure
The purpose of the grain duty is to withdraw excess profits from exporters, as well as to restrain domestic grain prices. For the domestic market, this works as a stabilizer: exports become less attractive.
High tariffs will help to avoid a shortage of supply in the domestic market. This is a timely stabilization measure, given the problems with fuel during the harvest period, says Evgeny Sumarokov, Associate Professor at the Department of International Business at the Financial University.,
As Oksana Lut, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, told Izvestia, Russia will provide all domestic grain needs in the coming days, as the volume of the harvest is approaching 100 million tons.
— This will actually provide all our domestic food needs for grain. That's why we're moving at a good pace so far. Our cleaning volumes already exceed those of last year," she explained.
Lut emphasized the priority of farmers in providing fuel. The Ministry of Energy deals with agricultural producers, and although there are certain distortions in the regions due to terrorist attacks, the agency and the main companies quickly redistribute resources and send them to regions with local shortages.
Fiscal measure
Tariffs are not only a tool for regulating exports and domestic prices. This is also a fiscal measure aimed at replenishing the budget.
So, the current rate for wheat is 721.1 rubles per ton. If the exporter exports 100 thousand tons, all other things being equal, this is 72.11 million rubles of duty. This money is paid to the state, that is, it becomes federal budget revenues.
At the same time, the higher the rate and the larger the physical volume of exports, the greater the potential revenue.
By the way, the federal budget for 2026 provides separately https://base .garant.ru/413165837/7d7b9c31284350c257ca3649122f627b / additional revenues from the increase in export customs duties on grain crops: about 135.8 billion rubles. This amount is almost 1.8 times more than in 2025 (76.4 billion rubles).
The world leader
Thus, although high duties make exports less attractive, this does not necessarily mean a proportional drop in physical exports. It is simultaneously affected by the harvest, world prices, exchange rate, logistics and demand.
Russian grain remains competitive. Moreover, Russia has managed to maintain its leadership in the global market. In the agricultural season of 2024-25, wheat exports from Russia amounted to 44 million tons. And from July 2025 to June 2026 - 46.5 million tons.
According to the federal center Agroexport, in 2025, wheat harvest increased by 8.5 million tons to 91.1 million tons. Demand from traditional buyers has also increased.
Thus, wheat exports to Turkey increased 2.2 times to about 7.3 million tons compared to the agricultural season of 2024/25, and to Sudan — doubled to 2.2 million tons. Egypt and Israel have also increased purchases.
In January-July 2026, Russian exporters increased grain supplies to China by 31% in physical terms and by 47% in value. In the first seven months of 2026, Russia exported 895 thousand tons of grain worth $227 million to China.
This result was the second in the history of observations for the same period. The record was set two years ago: at that time, shipments exceeded 1 million tons, and their value reached $248 million.
Among the main export positions in terms of value in 2026 were barley, corn and buckwheat. Wheat supplies increased the most. In value terms, exports of this crop increased 24-fold, exceeding $10 million.
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