BUCHAREST, ROMANIA — As of April 10, the government of Romania has suspended most exports of grains, oilseeds and related products to markets outside of the EU, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture.

Deliveries can continue within the EU as long as trading partners guarantee that the commodities will be consumed within the EU and not re-exported.

The government made the decision due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and growing concerns about the winter crop’s impact from drought, the USDA said.

On April 9, the government issued Military Ordinance No. 8, which suspends exports of most grains, oilseeds, and related products to non-EU export markets during the state of emergency.

“The objective is to ensure Romanian food security, amid increasing fears that grain and oilseed stocks will run low due to exports,” the USDA said.

According to the ordinance, exports of wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice, wheat flour, soybeans, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, sugar, bakery products, soybean meal, and other oilcakes will be suspended through the state of emergency.

Romania’s winter crops are threatened by drought conditions. Although the 2019-20 winter was mild, the level of precipitation was below normal, following dry conditions throughout fall 2019, the USDA said. Dry soil conditions may also negatively affect the ongoing spring planting operations for corn, sunflower and soybeans.

Romania usually exports a large percentage of its grain and oilseed crops. In 2019-20, exports were expected to increase 1.4% from its record exports of 12.9 million tonnes in 2018-19.

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