World’s Biggest Wheat Supply Dries Up When Some Want It Most

  • Russian exhausts grain-export quota two months ahead of plan
  • Russian ban could benefit rival suppliers like the EU and U.S.
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
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For the first time in a decade, the world risks being cut off from Russian wheat at a time when some key buyers are rushing to import it.

The top shipper last month limited sales through June to protect its own supply as the coronavirus crisis sparks food-security concerns around the world. Although the curbs were seen loose enough to ensure normal trade flows for this time of year, Russia has already burned through the entire quota. It will halt grain shipments to all but four former Soviet neighbors once the last cargo booked under the limits leaves the country.