News Capsule: India Reopens Wheat Exports After Four Years, Several Countries Show Interest
13-Apr-2026 09:41 AM
News Capsule: India Reopens Wheat Exports After Four Years, Several Countries Show Interest
★ After nearly four years, India has lifted its wheat export ban, prompting countries such as Egypt, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Bangladesh to show strong interest in purchasing Indian wheat.
★ In February 2026, the government allowed exports of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and an additional 0.5 million tonnes of processed wheat products, with DGFT expected to allocate export quotas soon.
★ Indian wheat remains competitive in global markets, with CFR prices to Bangladesh currently at $275–280 per tonne.
★ As of early April, Food Corporation of India (FCI) wheat stocks stood above 22 million tonnes, far higher than the buffer norm of 7.46 million tonnes.
★ However, unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and strong winds have affected nearly 4.2 million hectares of wheat crop across 152 districts in 9 states, causing 20–30% quality loss and an estimated production loss of around 2 million tonnes.
★ Despite this damage, India’s wheat production for 2025-26 is still projected at a record 120 million tonnes.