India lifts wheat export restrictions; atta, maida and durum wheat exports now free
India has lifted export restrictions on wheat and durum wheat, while also allowing the free export of wheat flour and related products, including atta, maida and rava, with immediate effect.
The move opens the door for exporters to resume overseas shipments of products that had earlier been placed under the prohibited export category.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Department of Commerce, issued two notifications on Monday revising the export policy for the specified products from “Prohibited” to “Free.”
Wheat and durum wheat exports allowed
Under Notification No. 35/2026-27 dated August 24, the DGFT changed the export policy for wheat covered under specified ITC (HS) codes.
The decision applies to:
- Durum wheat under ITC (HS) Code 10011900
- Wheat under ITC (HS) Code 10019910
Both categories were previously listed as prohibited for export. They can now be exported under the free category with immediate effect.
“The export policy of Wheat under the above-mentioned HS Codes is revised from ‘Prohibited’ to ‘Free’ with immediate effect,” the notification said.
Atta, maida and other wheat products also freed for export
In a separate notification, the government also lifted export restrictions on wheat flour and several related products classified under ITC (HS) Code 11010000.
The category includes:
- Wheat or meslin flour
- Atta
- Maida
- Samolina or rava/sirgi
- Wholemeal atta
- Resultant atta
The export policy for these products has also been revised from “Prohibited” to “Free”, according to DGFT Notification No. 34/2026-27 issued on the same day.
This means exporters dealing in wheat flour and these specified wheat-based products will no longer face the earlier prohibition under the export policy.
Both notifications were issued by the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and took effect immediately.
The decision allows wheat covered under the specified HS codes, along with wheat flour, atta, maida and other products listed in the notifications, to be exported without being classified under the prohibited export category.
With ANI inputs