Russia bans rapeseed exports until Aug 31 - govt

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - The Russian government has decided to reinstate the temporary ban on rapeseed exports until August 31, 2024, the Cabinet's Telegram channel reported, citing a signed resolution.

The previous ban was in effect from September 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024, inclusive.

"The decision will make it possible to ensure the capacity utilization of domestic enterprises that produce rapeseed oil, as well as provide livestock farms with the necessary processed products of this oil crop," the statement said.

The ban, like before, does not apply to rapeseed exports to countries in the Eurasian Economic Union, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, or to shipments under international intergovernmental agreements and humanitarian aid to other countries.

It was reported earlier that the government resolution on the ban on drafted by the Agriculture Ministry. The ban applies to EAEU trade codes 1205 10 900 0 and 1205 90 000 9.

The ban on rapeseed exports was first imposed from April 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022. It was then extended in September 2022 until February 28, 2023, then again to August 31 and then to February 29, 2024.

Russia's rapeseed harvest fell to 4.2 million tonnes in 2023 from 4.5 million tonnes in 2022, the Federal Statistics Service reported.