Key Takeaways:
- Russian wheat export duty will be set to zero from 14 to 20 January 2026, replacing earlier, higher rates.
- Duty will be 97.3 rubles per tonne on 12–13 January and 109.1 rubles per tonne up to 11 January.
- Export duties on barley and corn remain zero; rates are calculated under Russia’s grain buffer mechanism.
- Indicative export prices used for calculations: $229.2/t for wheat, $219.6/t for barley and $200.6/t for corn.
Russia sets zero export duty on wheat from 14 January
Russia will set the export duty on wheat to zero from 14 January 2026 through 20 January inclusive, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on 30 December. The move replaces a temporary rate of 97.3 rubles per tonne that will apply on 12 and 13 January, while a rate of 109.1 rubles per tonne applies to shipments up to and including 11 January.
Russian wheat export duty: what changes and when
Under the announcement, export duties on barley and corn will remain at zero, a level that has been maintained for some time. The wheat duty change follows calculations based on indicative export contract prices registered on the Moscow Exchange. For the current period, the indicative prices were set at $229.2 per tonne for wheat (up from $228.4 in the prior period), $219.6 for barley and $200.6 for corn.
The duty levels derive from Russia’s grain buffer mechanism introduced on 2 June 2021. That mechanism sets floating export duties for wheat, maize and barley and directs proceeds to subsidise agricultural producers. Duties are calculated weekly and equal 70% of the difference between a fixed base price and the indicative price derived from registered export contracts.
At present, the base price is 18,000 rubles per tonne for wheat and 17,875 rubles per tonne for both barley and corn. When indicative prices rise above those baselines, a duty may be imposed; conversely, when the gap narrows the duty can fall to zero, as in the latest decision.
Immediate market and trade implications
The temporary abolition of the wheat export duty is likely to ease costs for Russian exporters during the two-week window. That may support shipments and help maintain Russia’s share in global grain markets during the early part of the year. For importers, the zero duty could translate into slightly lower landed costs compared with the rates that applied earlier in January.
Domestically, the grain buffer mechanism aims to balance export competitiveness with support for local producers via subsidy flows funded by any duty receipts. With a zero duty scheduled for 14–20 January there will be no direct duty proceeds for subsidy disbursement in that period. The Ministry of Agriculture periodically adjusts rates to reflect market conditions and ensure producers receive targeted support.
How duties are set and what to watch next
Duties are based on weekly indicators from export contract prices recorded on the Moscow Exchange. This transparent, formulaic approach means tariffs can change rapidly in line with international price movements. Market participants will watch subsequent indicative prices and any further ministry announcements for signals about duty levels after 20 January.
For traders and logistics operators, the sequence of different rates within January highlights the importance of shipment registration dates. Cargoes registered for export on or after 14 January will benefit from the zero rate, while those registered earlier will be subject to the applicable higher rates for their respective dates.
Overall, the decision represents a short-term easing of export costs for wheat. Stakeholders across the supply chain — from farmers and processors to exporters and foreign buyers — will monitor price indicators closely as the grain buffer mechanism continues to steer duty policy.
