Source: Oleoscope (Russia)
Russia’s wheat export duty has dropped to zero once again, following a period of moderate tariff charges on outgoing grain shipments. This latest update signals easing pressure on Russian grain exporters heading into late April 2026. Moreover, the Russia wheat export duty reset comes as indicative market prices remain close to base price levels, eliminating the tariff gap that drives duty charges. For traders, buyers, and logistics operators active in Russian grain markets, this development is therefore an important weekly update to track.
Wheat Duty Falls from 329 Rubles to Zero from April 22
The duty on wheat exports from Russia will be zero starting April 22. This is down from 329 rubles per tonne the previous week, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture reported. Additionally, barley and corn export duties will remain at zero for the second week in a row. Consequently, all three major grain categories now carry no active export tariff burden simultaneously.
Indicative and Base Prices Behind the Russia Wheat Export Duty Calculation
The new rates were calculated based on the following indicative prices:
- Wheat: $234.4 per tonne (versus $233.3 in the previous period)
- Barley: $223.8 per tonne (versus $218.2 in the previous period)
- Corn: $220.8 per tonne (versus $222.2 in the previous period)
Furthermore, base prices remained unchanged. For wheat, the base price stays at 18,000 rubles per tonne. For barley and corn, it holds at 17,875 rubles per tonne. The rates will be in effect through April 29, inclusive.
How Russia Computes Weekly Grain Export Duties
As a reminder, the duty rates are calculated weekly. They use indicators based on export contract prices registered on the Moscow Exchange. The duty equals 70% of the difference between the base price and the indicative price. Therefore, when the indicative price stays at or below the base price level, the resulting duty reaches zero. That is exactly the case this week for wheat, barley, and corn. As a result, Russian grain exporters face no additional tariff cost on shipments through April 29, 2026.