Commercial Wheat Exports from India Resume After Four Years

04-May-2026 05:07 PM

New Delhi. Indian trading firms have restarted the process of shipping wheat exports following a long hiatus of four years. According to reports, a leading firm is currently overseeing the loading of 22,000 tonnes of wheat onto a vessel at Gujarat's Kandla port, destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is noteworthy that while the Central Government had imposed a ban on commercial wheat exports from India in May 2022, it has now granted permission to trading firms to export 5 million tonnes of wheat in 2026.

Wheat exports have been reopened due to robust domestic production and substantial government stockpiles. Domestic market prices for this vital food grain remain soft, even as global market prices have begun to firm up. Shipping costs have also increased. Consequently, Indian wheat has become somewhat more competitive in the markets of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Indian exporters are currently in contact with various countries regarding wheat export contracts and anticipate significant success in their endeavors in the near future. In South Asia, there is a strong likelihood of robust demand for Indian wheat emerging in countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. Similarly, in Southeast Asia, countries including Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore—among others—may express interest in purchasing Indian wheat.

Wheat exports from India are also expected to reach nations within the Gulf region; the first consignment is scheduled to depart for the UAE shortly. To foster export growth, it is imperative that prices remain at a competitive level. Exporters from other supplier nations—including Russia, Canada, the USA, Australia, Ukraine, and Argentina—are already active in these markets; navigating the intense competition and formidable challenges posed by these players will not be an easy task for India.