Wheat Exports Relaxation: A Conditional Reprieve
India’s wheat export policy has undergone a subtle shift, with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issuing a notification that maintains the prohibition on wheat exports, while permitting an additional 25 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of wheat to be exported under controlled conditions.
- The DGFT notification maintains the “Prohibited” status for wheat exports under HS Codes 10011900 and 10019910.
- An additional 25 LMT of wheat is permitted for export, subject to modalities to be specified through a separate public notice by DGFT.
- The existing policy conditions, including exports based on permissions granted by the Government of India to meet other countries’ food security requirements, remain applicable.
Readers should care about this development as it reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to balance India’s food security needs with international trade obligations. This conditional relaxation of wheat exports may have implications for the country’s agricultural sector and its global trade partners.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, issued Notification No. 13/2026-27 dated 27 April 2026 amending the export policy of wheat under Chapter 10 of Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy. The notification maintains the “Prohibited” status for wheat exports under HS Codes 10011900 (Durum Wheat – Other) and 10019910 (Wheat). However, it introduces a limited relaxation by permitting export of an additional 25 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of wheat, subject to modalities to be specified through a separate public notice by DGFT. The existing policy conditions under Notification No. 06/2015-2020 dated 13 May 2022 remain applicable. These include allowing exports based on permissions granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security requirements upon request. Thus, while the prohibition continues, controlled and conditional exports are permitted within a defined quota and framework.
Government of India Ministry of Commerce & Industry Department of Commerce Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Subject: Amendment in export policy of Wheat – regarding.
S.O. (E) – In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992) as amended, read with Para 1.02 and Para 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment to the Export Policy of Wheat under Chapter 10 of Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy:
Wheat: – – Other
10019910: Wheat Prohibited
As laid down in DGFT Notification No. 06/2015-2020 dated May 13, 2022 Export of additional 25 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of Wheat shall be permitted subject to the modalities to be notified vide a separate Public Notice to be issued by DGFT. 2. Effect of this Notification:
The export policy of Wheat under the HS Codes 10011900 and 10019910 continues to remain “Prohibited”. However, export of additional 25 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of Wheat is permitted and the detailed modalities for this purpose shall be notified via separate Public Notice. Furthermore, the existing policy condition mentioned in DGFT Notification No. 06/2015-2020 dated May 13, 2022 continues to apply, wherein export shall also be avowed on the basis of permission granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments, over and above the said permitted amount of additional 25 LMT of Wheat.
(Lay Agarwal) Director General of Foreign Trade and ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India Email: dgft@nic.in
(Issued from File No. 01/91/180/032/AM22/Pt I/EC/E- 32553)
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Readers should treat this as a tax and compliance update, not as personal advice.
This article is for general information based on available source information. It should not be considered legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.