The current price of wheat is also not suitable for export

18-Feb-2026 04:49 PM

Indore. While the government has permitted traders/exporters to export 2.5 million tons of wheat, the current price level prevailing in the domestic market is not considered favorable for contracting and shipping. The cost of wheat delivery from states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh to Kandla port is between ₹25,200-25,500 per ton, equivalent to $285-288 per ton in foreign currency. If the sea freight (shipment) cost of $20 per ton is also factored in, the total cost of transporting wheat to Middle East Asia and Southeast Asia would be $305-508 per ton.

Similarly, if wheat from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were shipped through Visakhapatnam port in India, it would cost $300-310 per ton. In comparison, the global price of wheat is hovering around $260 per ton.

Although Indian wheat is preferred in the Middle East, the significant price difference of $45-48 per tonne will make it more expensive. The President of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India states that exports from India to the Middle East will only become profitable if the price of wheat in the domestic market falls to Rs 2,500-3,000 per tonne from the current level.

Indian wheat will not be able to compete in the global market even in the coming months because farmers will be reluctant to sell their produce below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which has been set at a very high Rs 2,585 per quintal.

This will make Indian wheat very expensive. Internationally traded companies are offering wheat between $286-290 per tonne for shipments in the second half of March. According to trade analysts, the price of Indian wheat, which has a protein content of 11.5%, is $20 per tonne higher.