Aug 20. Export duties on mineral fertilizers will remain in effect until the end of 2009, Vice PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told journalists. "The statutory documents have not yet been adopted, however, the decision in principle has been taken" – he said. Earlier, the duty was expected to last until April 30, 2009. In order to increase supply and reduce prices on the domestic mineral fertilizer market, in March the Russian government approved a 5% export duty on potash fertilizers and an 8.5% duty on compound and nitrogen fertilizers. Then the government approved new export duty rates on sulfur and apatite used for mineral fertilizer output. Their export is subject to a 6.5% duty. The proceeds are to be allocated to agricultural producers to offset mineral fertilizer purchases.