The recent update of the OECD Database on Export Restrictions on Staple Crops reveals a trend since August 2024 in which export restrictions on maize, rice, soybeans, and wheat are decreasing via removals of pre-existing restrictions and relatively fewer new export restrictions.
Sharp decrease in export restrictions (2024–2025): Between August 2024 and June 2025, the cumulative number of export restrictions on staple crops was nearly halved following a period since 2018 of overall increases in export restrictions.
Key drivers: The significant decline in export restrictions coincided with the removal of several pre-existing export restrictions by major players and relatively fewer introductions of export restrictions overall. Notably, India removed its export prohibitions, quotas, taxes, and MEPs on rice, thus removing nearly all its rice-targeted export restrictions aside from licensing requirements. Argentina ended its export quota on maize and removed its export tax on rice. Russia removed its export taxes on rice and soybeans and ended its export prohibition on wheat.
Concentration of restrictions from January 2024 to June 2025: Approximately 85% of export restrictions from January 2024 to June 2025 were imposed by four countries: India, Russia, Argentina, and Ukraine.
Focus on export quotas, MEPs, and export taxes: Export quotas, MEPs, and export taxes were the most introduced types of measures from January 2024 to June 2025.
Rice was the most affected staple crop: From January 2024 to June 2025, rice accounted for 45% of export restrictions, followed by wheat, maize, and soybeans.
Given the highly interdependent nature of the global economy and the reliance of many countries on international trade for staple crops, export restrictions risk negative spillovers across global supply chains. To reduce the uncertainty surrounding these measures and to help market participants and policymakers develop more effective responses, it is crucial to monitor them in a consistent and transparent way.
Analysis and evidence on export restrictions is key to reducing information asymmetry to help prevent wrong policy responses and to increase international co-operation. The OECD database provides a freely accessible data source that allows for crucial tracking of the evolution of such restrictions over time.