India Lifts Four-Year Ban on Wheat Exports

The Indian government has lifted its ban on wheat and wheat-based flour product exports after four years. The move is expected to benefit farmers and exporters by providing access to overseas markets and potentially improving price realisation.

The Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the export policy of wheat and durum wheat, as well as wheat or meslin flour (atta), maida, semolina, wholemeal atta, and resultant atta from 'prohibited' to 'free', with immediate effect.

Restrictions on exports were imposed in May 2022 due to concerns over domestic availability and rising prices. However, the situation in the domestic market has eased due to record production and robust wheat stocks.

Indian exporters had been allowed a cumulative 5 million tonnes of wheat and 1 million tonnes of wheat products to be exported this year, but less than 100,000 tonnes of wheat products and less than 300,000 tonnes of wheat have actually been exported so far.