Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
An OECD policy paper reviews export restrictions on staple crops from January 2007 to April 2024, highlighting increased restrictions during the 2007–08 global food price crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The use of export restrictions was highest during the first period compared to later crises.
The OECD's updated database, including export restrictions up to June 2025, notes a sharp decline in these measures since mid-2024 as major countries have lifted quotas, taxes, and bans on staple crop exports. The report emphasizes that such restrictions can hinder food access for vulnerable populations, disrupt agricultural supply chains, and increase uncertainty in agro-food markets.
The OECD also warns that uncertainty over the duration and scope of export restrictions may prompt firms and governments to make decisions with incomplete information, potentially causing significant long-term impacts on agriculture and trade.