Call for Free Export of Value-Added Wheat Products

26-Sep-2025 07:58 PM

New Delhi. Navneet Chitlangia, President of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, has strongly urged the Central Government to allow the export of value-added wheat products under the Open General License (OGL).

He stated that while maintaining a ban on wheat exports is considered a correct step to maintain supply and availability in the domestic sector, the ban on the export of wheat products such as flour, refined flour, and semolina should not continue.

If the government is concerned about rising prices in the domestic market after exports are opened, it could allow shipments with quantitative controls.

Although the international market price of wheat is currently low, it is important to note that Indian mill flour and other wheat products have a strong market, especially in countries with a large Indian population.

The Federation's President stated that the wheat economy has traditionally been central to India's food security and the growth of the FMPG sector.

Over the past few years, wheat prices have been fluctuating, owing to frequent government policy interventions and disruptions in the global wheat supply chain. For FMCG companies that rely on wheat to manufacture their products, these fluctuations have been negatively impacting input costs, impacting their planning and competitiveness.

Revision of GST Rates - Welcoming the changes, the Federation President stated that the decision to reduce GST rates on biscuits, pasta, noodles, bread, protta, and wheat-based products is a timely and positive step. This will make these products cheaper and increase demand and consumption.

The government should consider revising the wheat buffer stock structure. Maintaining adequate wheat stocks in the central pool is essential to ensure food security, but attention must be paid to increasing these stocks.