Figure 2.6 focuses on the evolution of export restrictions that target wheat. The figure shows that from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2025, five countries - Argentina, China, India, Russia, and Ukraine - had export restrictions. Argentina had an export tax in place throughout this period. China had a licensing requirement in place during this entire period, and India had an export prohibition, an export quota, and a licensing requirement in place. Russia ended an export prohibition in 2024. It also ended an export quota in 2024 and introduced a new export quota in 2025 and had an export tax in place throughout this period. Ukraine had a licensing requirement in place during this period and introduced an MEP in 2024. Key developments are listed below (further information can be found in the detailed version of the database):
Argentina
On 27 January 2025, Argentina temporarily lowered export taxes on several goods, including wheat, so long as certain conditions were met. The taxes on wheat were meant to return to their previous levels on 1 July 2025, but Argentina extended the temporarily lowered rates to 31 March 2026. Some of the taxes on wheat were eliminated on 27 January 2025.
China
India
On 13 May 2022, India introduced an export prohibition on wheat and meslin with an exemption on organic wheat flour that continues into the current period.
On 4 January 2025, India introduced an export quota without an end date on wheat to Nepal as an exemption to the export ban from 13 May 2022 on wheat and meslin (excluding organic wheat flour).
On 30 November 2023, India introduced an export quota without an end date on wheat to Bhutan as an exemption to the export ban from 13 May 2022 on wheat and meslin (excluding organic wheat flour).
On 27 August 2022, India introduced an export prohibition on wheat or meslin flour that continues into the current period. On the same date and in advance of the export prohibition, India withdrew a previous provision that exempted exports of wheat or meslin flour from any restriction or ban.
India has a continuing licensing requirement on wheat that began in 2022.
On 5 April 2024, India introduced an export quota on wheat flour to the Maldives under a bilateral trade agreement during FY 2024-25. Export of wheat flour to Maldives will be exempted from any existing or future restrictions or prohibitions on exports up to 31 March 2025.
Russia
On 1 June 2023, Russia introduced a variable export tax on certain wheat HS codes with an exemption for exports to Members of the Eurasian Economic Union. On 28 June 2024, Russia amended this variable tax. The tax has no end date.
On 1 October 2023, Russia introduced a variable export tax on other wheat HS codes with an exemption for exports to members of the Eurasian Economic Union. This variable export tax ended on 31 December 2024.
On 31 May 2024, Russia ended an export prohibition on wheat and meslin seed and durum wheat. On the same day, it also ended export quotas associated with this ban.
On 30 June 2025, Russia introduced an export quota on wheat with an exemption for exports to members of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Ukraine
On 1 January 2024, Ukraine imposed export licensing requirements on several goods including wheat for all shipments destined for Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. This export licensing requirement ended on 31 December 2024 and was implemented again starting 1 January 2025 and ending 31 December 2025.
On 30 August 2024, Ukraine introduced variable MEPs on wheat. On 25 March 2025, Ukraine amended the minimum variable export prices and added an exemption for goods declared on the basis of forward contracts. Then, on 17 May 2025 Ukraine amended the variable MEPs again. These variable MEPs have no end date.
The remainder of this section focuses on the period from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2025 of the OECD database on export restrictions on staple crops. The right panel of Figure 2.7 shows the composition of export restrictions by commodity, and the left panel shows the composition of export restrictions by commodity and by measure. The dotted parts of the bars represent the measures that have been introduced since January 2024, while the solid parts show measures that were in place before January 2024 and which remained active or were ended during the period from January 2024 to June 2025.
Including these active measures gives a more complete picture of activity during the period analysed. All other figures in the remainder of this section do not make the distinction between introduced and active measures but do include both types unless otherwise stated.
From January 2024 to June 2025, rice was the most targeted staple crop, accounting for 45% of export restrictions, followed by wheat (26%), maize (18%), soybeans (10%), and mixed commodities (1%) (Figure 2.7). Rice was mostly targeted by export quotas and export prohibitions, followed by licensing requirements. Export taxes were the most used export restriction during this period for maize, soybeans, and wheat.
