India Lifts Ban on Wheat Exports Amid Global Demand

India has lifted its four-year ban on wheat exports, which should help temper global prices of the staple food. Wheat prices had been rising due to geopolitical tensions exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war, leading to increased demand from Bangladesh.

The Indian government removed wheat and wheat products from the 'prohibited' category to 'free', allowing small and medium enterprises to export their brands overseas.

India banned wheat exports in May 2022 due to a severe heatwave that crimped domestic harvests at a time of robust exports, reducing domestic stocks and triggering price rallies. The country partially opened exports in early 2026, allowing shipments of 5 million tonnes of wheat and 1 million tonnes of wheat products.

However, global wheat prices scaled two-year highs as the war between Ukraine and Russia affected exports from these countries, considered major global wheat exporters.