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Traders plea to suspend wheat export order
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Tuesday, 08 September, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola , New Delhi
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The Union Government’s decision to lift the four-year-old ban on the export of wheat and its derivative products, including flour (atta), maida, and semolina (suji), on August 24 has sparked sharp criticism from trade representatives following an immediate spike in domestic prices.
Shankar Thakkar, national secretary, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), warned that reopening exports could prove counterproductive for domestic price stability.
Citing trade data, Thakkar said that domestic wheat prices surged by over Rs 200 per quintal shortly after the curbs were relaxed.
In Maharashtra's agricultural wholesale markets, prices have witnessed a steady upward trajectory, with Mumbai mandis recording a jump from Rs 2,900 to Rs 3,100 per quintal since August 17. Concurrently, international wheat rates have climbed to near three-year highs.
Meanwhile, the price surge has triggered sharp divides within the trading community. While one section argues that Indian wheat remains uncompetitive in the global market, costing roughly $30 per ton higher than international origins, others express grave concerns over long-term supply dynamics, particularly with global weather agencies forecasting El Nino conditions to persist through March 2027, potentially threatening the upcoming Rabi crop cycle.
“While the wholesale price escalation has not yet fully reflected in retail counters, where average wheat prices currently stand at Rs 31.58 per kg nationwide, ranging between Rs 22 and Rs 55 per kg, industry experts warn that retail inflation is imminent if wholesale trends persist,” said Thakkar.
Calling on the government to immediately suspend the export order, Thakkar urged policymakers to draw lessons from past export relaxations in sugar and other essential commodities that subsequently created severe domestic supply shortages.
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