Wheat Export Quota Doubled to 5 Million Tonnes

29-Apr-2026 01:13 PM

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)—a body under the Union Ministry of Commerce—has issued a notification regarding its decision to permit the export of an additional 2.5 million tonnes of wheat. Notably, a decision to this effect was taken on April 20, and the formal notification regarding it had been awaited since then.

Adequate stocks of wheat are available in government warehouses, and domestic production this year is also projected to be excellent. Although government procurement of wheat is currently lagging slightly behind last year's figures,

the total reserves—combining existing stocks with current procurement—have accumulated to a substantial volume. Consequently, the government faced no hesitation in releasing an additional export quota for wheat. It is worth noting that approval for the export of 1 million tonnes of wheat products had already been granted previously.

The DGFT notification states that, as a matter of policy, there remains a restriction on the free export of wheat; however, the government has granted approval for the export of an additional 2.5 million tonnes—a quantity distinct from the export volume previously allocated.

Thus, the total approved quantity of wheat for export now stands at 5 million tonnes. Detailed modalities regarding this new decision will be notified through a separate order. Wheat exports to needy nations at the government-to-government level will continue as before. In this regard, the policy implemented on May 13, 2022, will remain in force.

The trade and industry sector has estimated this year's domestic wheat production at 110.65 million tonnes, while the Ministry of Agriculture has projected it at 120.21 million tonnes. Furthermore, the Ministry of Food has revised its wheat procurement target upward—increasing it by 4.2 million tonnes from the initial 30.3 million tonnes—to set the new target at 34.5 million tonnes.