Wheat importers in Asia scramble for supplies after Indian export ban

Workers carry sacks of wheat for sifting at a grain mill on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, May 16. Reuters-Yonhap

Wheat importers in Asia were scrambling to find new sources of supply Monday after India banned exports of the grain at the weekend in a bid to keep a lid on soaring domestic prices, trade sources told Reuters.

Importers, especially those in Asia, were banking on wheat from India, the world's second-biggest producer, after exports from the Black Sea region plunged following Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine jointly account for about 30% of global wheat exports. Ukraine's exports are severely hampered because the war has forced it to close its ports, while Russia's exports have been hit by Western sanctions.

"Asian importers are likely to be in deep trouble. India was the Ukraine/Russia alternative especially for feed wheat. (They are) already today casting around for alternatives," said a Europe-based wheat trader at a global trade house.

He said importers in Asia were even looking to buy more Russian wheat despite payment problems linked to sanctions on Russian banks and elevated shipping insurance premiums.

Benchmark wheat futures in Chicago jumped by their 6% limit Monday as markets reacted to the surprise ban, which came just days after New Delhi said it was targeting record wheat shipments of 10 million tons this year.

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Workers sift wheat before filling in sacks at the market yard of the Agriculture Product Marketing Committee on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, May 16. Reuters-Yonhap

Its policy reversal now means only exports backed by letters of credit (LCs), or payment guarantees, issued before May 13 can proceed.

That equates to only about 400,000 tons, industry sources told Reuters, adding that 1.8 million tons is now trapped at the country's ports.

Traders holding that wheat face heavy losses because they will have to cancel their export deals and resell onto a weakening domestic market.

"It started already this morning. Traders (who don't have LCs) had to announce cancellation of contracts. I'd assume from mid-June there will be no more (India) shipments," said a second Europe-based wheat trader.

India's export ban, prompted by a heatwave that has cut harvest prospects and pushed domestic prices to a record high, also comes amid output issues in traditional export powerhouses Canada, Europe and Australia.

Traders say the ban could drive global prices to new record peaks, hitting poor consumers in Asia and Africa particularly hard.

Top destinations for Indian exports include Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and Turkey, and top global wheat buyer Egypt recently agreed to make a first ever purchase of Indian wheat.

That deal is officially still on the cards as India has said it will still allow exports to countries that request supplies "to meet their food security needs," but market experts are skeptical.

"There's uncertainty over how much will be exported to countries India considers having food security needs. They might just export to friendly neighboring countries," said Carlos Mera, agri commodities analyst at Rabobank. (Reuters)

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