Turkey, the world's largest flour exporter, has eased wheat import restrictions ahead of the expiration of the ban at midnight on October 15, the Turkish Flour Industry Federation (TUSAF) said.

In June, the Turkish government suspended wheat imports until Oct. 15 to protect farmers from low prices and to facilitate domestic purchases of wheat by the Turkish State Grain Administration (TMO).

TUSAF head Haruk Tezcan said the government has allowed flour mills and wheat product exporters to import wheat, 85 percent of which will come from the TMO's stock of imported wheat, with the remaining 15 percent through private imports. The new rules are now in place and these restrictions will remain in place until the end of this year.

Turkey has not made any official statement regarding the expiration of the import ban on October 15, nor has it indicated what regulations will be implemented thereafter.

European grain traders have said in recent weeks that the Turkish import ban has virtually prevented Turkey from importing cheap wheat from the Black Sea, particularly Russia.

Trade said that large quantities of Russian wheat have still been shipped to Turkey in recent months, stored in bonded warehouses and not counted as imports until sold on the domestic market. This means that large quantities of Russian wheat in bonded warehouses could quickly appear on the Turkish market if the import ban is relaxed.

Turkey has a large pasta and flour manufacturing industry that relies on imported wheat in addition to domestically produced wheat.