Wheat product export ban likely to be eased after good harvest

Pune: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has initiated moves for lifting restrictions on exports of wheat products such as aata, maida, and suji. It has written a letter to the commerce ministry to consider allowing wheat product exports with a quantitative total limit of 1 million tonnes.The wheat milling industry is urging the government for easing the export curbs as it expects a bumper wheat crop in 2025-26. “India has witnessed a bumper wheat harvest this season, and with a favourable monsoon, we anticipate yet another excellent harvest in the coming season,” said Navneet Chitlangia, president, Roller Flour Millers’ Federation of India. “In view of the robust domestic production, we had requested the government to lift the restrictions on wheat product exports so that India may reclaim its traditional markets across the globe.”India had banned wheat and wheat product exports in 2022 as a heat wave crimped domestic production, while bumper exports depleted available stocks, causing a price surge. Subsequent years of high temperatures kept the demand and supply situation in tight balance, prompting the Centre to initiate price control measures.Since the ban on wheat and wheat products, some Indian companies have set up units in the Middle East and Canada to cater to the Indian diaspora, while supplies from countries like Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh partially occupied the market space vacated by India.

“The overseas Indians will now be able to again taste the aata made from Indian wheat varieties,” said Chitalangia.

The area under wheat cultivation more than doubled year-on-year as of November 7, per official data. Above normal monsoon, which helped replenish groundwater reserves, is expected to boost rabi crop yield, including wheat.To be sure, small quantities of wheat products continue to be exported under the advance authorisation scheme, under which exports of aata, maida, and suji made from imported wheat is permitted.Chitlangia said the new initiative will enable the Indian milling industry to resume its presence in international markets where Indian atta is valued for its authentic flavour and high quality.