On 6 December 2021, the Government of Mali announced a ban on exports of cereals, including rice, maize, millet and sorghum, until further notice. This follows a temporary reduction of import tariffs of basic foodstuffs, including 300 000 tonnes of rice, enforced in mid-November. Amid concerns of food shortages following a reduced cereal output in 2021, the measures aim to guarantee an adequate supply of cereals in the domestic market and contain prices. Despite a seasonal supply pressure stemming from the ongoing harvest, which is due to conclude in December, prices of cereals have followed an upward trend that started in early 2021 and, as of November, they were about 10 to 20 percent higher on a yearly basis, supported by high demand and conflict-related market disruptions.