Russia Temporarily Bans Grain Exports

Russia on Monday temporarily banned grain exports to ex-Soviet countries and most sugar exports, but a senior minister said it would keep on providing special export licences to traders within its current quota,Reutersreports.

On Monday, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order banning the export of white and raw sugar until August 31, and banning wheat, rye, barley and maize exports to Eurasian Economic Union states until June 30.

The measures were adopted "to protect the domestic food market in theface of external constraints," the government statement said.