India Deregulates Wheat Flour Exports Amid Record Crop Output
India has lifted its export ban on wheat flour products, effective immediately. The move comes after a record foodgrain output of 376.563 million tonnes in the 2025-26 crop year. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade changed the export policy for wheat, durum wheat, and related wheat flour products from 'Prohibited' to 'Free'. This means exports can take place without restrictions, subject to other applicable laws and procedures.
The ban was first imposed in May 2022 during global food market disruption after the Russia-Ukraine war. The new policy change removes the cap on exports for covered products, restoring wider overseas trade in processed wheat commodities. India's wheat flour exports traditionally move to markets in South Asia and the Middle East.
The decision is expected to affect capacity utilization in the milling sector. Maida, semolina, and atta are all wheat-based products that differ in processing and grain texture. India is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of wheat, with a population of approximately 1.4 billion people relying on it as a staple food.
The Centre allowed limited exports of 25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat products in February 2026. The new policy change applies to wheat, durum wheat, maida, semolina, wholewheat atta, resultant atta, and other related wheat flour products.