Now Reading: India Removes Wheat Flour Export Ban After Four Years
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India Removes Wheat Flour Export Ban After Four Years
The Union government has immediately moved wheat, atta, maida, semolina, wholemeal atta and resultant atta from the “prohibited” to the “free” export category. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued two notifications…
The Union government has immediately moved wheat, atta, maida, semolina, wholemeal atta and resultant atta from the “prohibited” to the “free” export category. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued two notifications on Monday, subject to normal export rules.
The restrictions began in May 2022 for wheat and were extended to flour products in August that year, after domestic prices rose and global rates surged following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This year, the government had permitted 5 million tonnes of wheat and 1 million tonnes of wheat products under a quota, but industry players said less than 3 lakh tonnes of wheat and 1 lakh tonnes of products were exported.
The Hindu BusinessLine reports that record production and comfortable stocks enabled the reopening, which could help farmers and exporters regain overseas markets. A former millers’ federation chief said exporters may need time to rebuild markets. The new policy takes effect immediately.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both outlets present the decision as a policy reversal after domestic supply concerns eased. Times Now focuses on the immediate rule change and its wider product coverage, while The Hindu BusinessLine adds stock conditions, low utilisation of earlier quotas and the industry’s concern that overseas markets have shifted. The government’s account supports reopening, but the export figures show that access alone may not quickly restore shipments. The outcome will depend on exporter capacity, overseas competition and domestic wheat prices under the new free-export regime.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): timesnownews.com (neutral report), thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
