Ukraine war: India asked to rethink export ban, supply more than 1.5 million tonnes of wheat due to shortages caused by Russia invasion
- An Indian government source said Bangladesh is one of about six country’s that have requested wheat from the country
- India is the world’s second-biggest producer of wheat and recently imposed an export ban on the staple following a heatwave that affected crop yields
India has received requests for the supply of more than 1.5 million tonnes of wheat from several countries that need the staple to overcome shortages triggered by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, trade and government sources said on Monday.
“More than half a dozen countries have approached India for more than 1.5 million tonnes of wheat and we will see how to go about these requests,” said a government official who did not wish to be identified in line with official rules.
“India is keen to help vulnerable countries and anyone who needs wheat,” said the official involved in decision making.
The bulk of the request has come from Bangladesh, a regular buyer of Indian wheat, the sources said. India, which has banned private wheat exports, is open to specific requests for grain from foreign governments.
For Bangladesh, Indian wheat is at least 30 per cent cheaper than supplies from other origins, and it takes just about a week for Indian cargoes to reach there, said the chief of the Indian unit of a global trading firm. He did not wish to be identified as he is not authorised to talk to the media.
