India to boost wheat exports to fill void left by Ukraine conflict
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict persists, Egypt, Israel, Oman, Nigeria, and South Africa have turned to India for wheat supplies, fearing a global food crisis. The disruption in wheat exports from Russia and Ukraine, major global wheat exporters, has led to shortages and soaring prices. India, the world’s second-largest wheat producer, is also exploring new markets like Turkey and Sudan. The government is actively addressing logistical challenges to meet the surging demand, with talks underway to export to Egypt.
Egypt, Israel, Oman, Nigeria and South Africa have approached India to secure wheat supplies, two government officials said, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict entered its fourth week, threatening a global food crisis.
Supply disruptions because of the war between Russia and Ukraine, known as Europe’s breadbasket, have triggered panic among wheat-importing nations.
These countries are rushing to secure supplies amid shortages and high prices.
India is also pursuing wheat-importing nations that have traditionally not relied on Indian wheat such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon.
Russia and Ukraine export nearly one-third of global wheat every year.
The Indian government is also looking at measures to boost exports, including addressing logistical bottlenecks related to ports and railways and ensuring the produce meets global quality standards.
The commerce ministry is in talks with the railways and port authorities to meet immediate demand for additional wheat transport.
“Countries such as Egypt, Israel, Oman, Nigeria and South Africa have already placed requests for wheat from India,” said one of the government officials cited above, requesting anonymity.
“The government is working closely with the Indian Railways and port authorities to smoothen the process.”
While India is the second-largest wheat producer with a share of around 14.14% of the world’s production in 2020, it accounted for less than 1% of global wheat exports. In 2020-21, India entered new wheat markets such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Qatar and Indonesia.
India is in final talks to start wheat exports to Egypt—one of the largest importers of wheat from Ukraine and Russia, the ministry of commerce and industry said on Saturday.
