Government Clears 2.5 Million Tons of Wheat for Export, Raises Sugar and Wheat Product Quotas

13-Feb-2026 05:49 PM

New Delhi. The Central Government has approved the export of 2.5 million tons of whole wheat and has decided to increase the export quotas for wheat products and sugar by 500,000 tons each.

Following this decision, the export quota for wheat products will increase from 500,000 tons to 1 million tons, and the export quota for sugar will increase from 1.5 million tons to 2 million tons.

The government has taken this decision in light of the favorable supply and availability situation in the domestic market and the ongoing pressure on prices.

A circular issued by the Union Ministry of Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution states that this farmer-friendly decision will stabilize domestic market prices and ensure a remunerative price return to producers. The government has taken this decision after a comprehensive assessment of the current availability and price scenario of wheat and its products.

According to official data, private firms have a stock of approximately 7.5 million tons of wheat, an increase of approximately 3.2 million tons from the same period last year. This clearly indicates the comfortable supply and availability of wheat in the country.

Furthermore, as of April 1, 2026, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is estimated to have a stock of approximately 18.2 million tons of wheat in the central pool. Therefore, even if 2.5 million tons of wheat and 1 million tons of wheat products are exported, there will be no threat to national food security.

As for sugar, the government announced an export quota of 1.5 million tons for the current marketing season 2025-26 on November 14, 2025, despite industry organizations demanding permission to export 2 million tons. The government has now accepted that demand.