India’s wheat stocks drop to 16-year low

India’s wheat stocks in government warehouses on May 1 reached their lowest level since 2008 with a 10.3% year-on-year drop, Reuters reported.

Two years of low crops resulted in the sale of record volumes to boost domestic supplies and lower local prices.

Inventories in May were higher than April stocks of 7.5 million tonnes following new season purchases.

The government has resisted pressure to encourage imports by cutting or removing the 40% tax on imports or by buying directly from leading suppliers such as Russia, Reuters reported. It has opted instead to dip into state reserves to sell to bulk consumers, such as flour millers and biscuit makers.

The Food Corporation of India started selling wheat to private players in June 2023 and has so far sold a little more than 10 million tonnes, a record from state reserves.

Tags: wheat, India, stocks