News Capsule: Wheat Open Market Sales ends; poor sales recorded
27-Feb-2026 11:23 AM
News Capsule: Wheat Open Market Sales ends; poor sales recorded
★ The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has concluded wheat sales under the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) for the financial year 2025-26 (April–March) amid weak demand.
★ FCI sold around 634,000 tonnes of wheat to millers and processors across eight rounds of auctions, which is only 21 percent of the total allocation of 3 million tonnes. This marks one of the weakest open market wheat sales performances in recent years. In the final auction rounds, only 40–50 percent of the offered quantity could be sold.
★ In comparison, during FY 2024-25, FCI sold nearly 98.6 percent of the allocated 3 million tonnes (2.96 million tonnes) through 14 weekly auctions. In FY 2023-24, when market supplies were tight, the agency achieved a record sale of 9.41 million tonnes of wheat.
★ According to a government official, no further wheat tenders will be issued this year. The last auction was held on February 18. Typically, FCI concludes auctions in early March as it prepares for the next procurement season.
★ Government data shows that wheat acreage in the 2025-26 crop year increased by about 2 percent to 33.4 million hectares. Production is estimated at around 117 million tonnes, indicating a second consecutive year of high output. Last year, wheat production reached a record 117.9 million tonnes.
★ OMSS sales remained irregular during the year. In December, the government temporarily suspended auctions for a month following objections from trade bodies, citing ample market supplies and pressure on prices. Auctions had begun on November 12, but buying interest remained weak from the start.
★ As of February 1, FCI held wheat stocks of 25.6 million tonnes, up 58 percent from a year earlier.
★ Given comfortable domestic availability, the central government reopened wheat exports on February 13 after nearly four years, allowing exports of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat along with an additional 500,000 tonnes of wheat products.