The Union of Flour and Cereals Enterprises has expressed concerns to the Ministry of Agriculture about a proposal by State Duma deputies to expand benefits for the transportation of flour from Siberia to all regions of Russia. The union worries that this could lead to the closure of mills and cereal plants in the European part of Russia, threatening food security and hindering planned flour export expansion. The union also highlighted that European processors are less profitable due to underutilization, and that Siberian processors have an advantage with cheap grain. Data shows a 20% increase in Siberian region's processed grain exports, reaching 231 thousand tons, with Thailand being a first-time importer of Siberian flour. Russia's wheat and wheat-rye flour exports have also increased by 38% from the previous year, led by Afghanistan, China, and Iraq.