Russia does not plan to impose export tax on fertilizers and metals, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Friday, calming concern large exporters would be hit by state efforts to cool prices.
Some ministries have suggested export curbs after the ruble slump encouraged exports and inflated domestic prices.
Russia's government has not looked at imposing a tax on fertilizer exports, Dvorkovich, who is in charge of Russia's main industrial sectors, told reporters in Moscow.
"This question is not being discussed," he said.
The government also has no plan to restrict the export of metals, Dvorkovich said.
The Agriculture Ministry has lobbied for a tax on fertilizer exports in an attempt to help the farming sector. Any tax move could hit the world's top potash producer Uralkali and fertiliser firms Phosagro, Acron, Eurochem and Uralchem.
The Industry and Trade Ministry has proposed limiting exports of steel and non-ferrous metals scrap. Several large steel producers, including Severstal, Evraz, NLMK and MMK, have publicly stated they were against this measure.
Russia's non-ferrous metals sector includes Norilsk Nickel, the world's second largest nickel producer, and aluminum giant Rusal.
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