India Lifts Wheat Export Ban After Record Harvest

The Government of India lifted a years-long ban on the export of wheat, durum wheat, flour, and other wheat products on Monday. The decision follows a record domestic harvest of 120.6 million tons, providing the surplus necessary to shift policy without compromising domestic food security.

India had largely prohibited wheat exports since 2022 to protect internal supplies. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued the formal notifications permitting the resumption of exports to help stabilize global markets. This move comes as Chicago wheat futures reached a two-year high, driven by escalating attacks between Russia and Ukraine on commercial vessels and ports in the Black Sea.

The policy shift is intended to support import-dependent nations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East that have faced severe supply pressures due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.