The Centre has formally lifted export restrictions on key wheat-derived products — including atta, maida, semolina (rava), wholemeal atta, and resultant atta — shifting them from the 'prohibited' to the 'free' category, according to a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Monday, 24 August. The move ends a nearly three-year-old export curb that was first imposed in 2022 to protect domestic food security and cool rising prices.

What Changed in Export Policy

Under the revised policy, wheat or meslin flour, maida, semolina, wholemeal atta, and resultant atta can now be exported without any quantitative or regulatory restrictions. The DGFT notification formalises the shift, signalling that the government is confident domestic supply can sustain both local demand and overseas trade simultaneously.

Why the Curbs Were Imposed in 2022

The original restrictions came in two phases. On 13 May 2022, the export policy for wheat was changed from free to prohibited, with curbs extended to wheat flour exports in August 2022. The trigger was the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which disrupted global wheat supplies, spiked international demand for Indian wheat, and drove domestic prices sharply higher. The government argued at the time that safeguarding food security for India's 1.4 billion population took precedence over export revenues.

Record Harvests Pave the Way

The policy reversal is underpinned by a significant improvement in agricultural output. According to data released in May, India's total foodgrain production rose 5.3% to an all-time high of 376.563 million tonnes in 2025-26, up from 357.732 million tonnes the previous year. Wheat production alone was estimated at 120.657 million tonnes — 2.712 million tonnes higher than the 117.945 million tonnes recorded in 2024-25. Rice output also climbed to 154.024 million tonnes from 150.184 million tonnes.

Notably, the government had already begun easing restrictions incrementally. In February this year, it permitted the export of 25 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat and an additional 5 LMT of wheat products, citing improved stock availability — a signal that Monday's full liberalisation had been in the pipeline for months.

What This Means for Trade and Farmers

The removal of export curbs is expected to open up markets for Indian wheat processors, flour millers, and farmers, particularly as global wheat prices remain elevated relative to pre-conflict levels. Indian exporters, who lost market share to competitors during the ban period, are now positioned to re-enter key markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The decision also sends a signal to global commodity markets that India — one of the world's largest wheat producers — is returning as a reliable supplier. How quickly trade volumes recover will depend on the pace at which exporters rebuild buyer relationships disrupted since 2022.