Export restrictions on staple crops since 2007 : An overview based on the OECD database on export restrictions on staple crops

The OECD database on export restrictions on staple crops is an integral part of the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) initiative. Data collected between January 2007 to April 2024 show an increased use of export restrictions during the global food price crisis of 2007-08, the COVID-19 pandemic, and following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the first period witnessing a significantly higher use of export restrictions than the two subsequent crises. During the first two periods, export taxes prevailed, while prohibitions have been more prominent during the war in Ukraine. The analysis shows that the type of export restriction most commonly used varied by commodity. Maize experienced predominantly export taxes and prohibitions, while minimum export prices and quotas were frequently used for rice. Soybeans were primarily targeted by export taxes, whereas a mix of export quotas and taxes were used for wheat. Only a small proportion of export restrictions lasted less than a month.