India Considers Exporting Wheat Products Amid Record Harvest

Several countries are adjusting their policies on staple grain imports and exports to balance food security and market stability. India is considering allowing exports of wheat products like flour and semolina but remains focused on food security despite record wheat production, while also dealing with export bans imposed due to past supply concerns. The Philippines, under President Marcos Jr., is extending a rice import ban and considering higher tariffs to stabilize local palay prices and protect farmers during the harvest season, with economic officials weighing the inflation impact of these measures. Ghana is urged to enforce import quotas requiring large-scale rice importers to source a significant portion locally to promote domestic production and reduce reliance on imports, despite challenges in processing and storage. Meanwhile, India’s basmati rice exports to the U.S. face challenges from Trump administration tariffs that could price Indian rice out of the American market, benefiting Pakistan’s exports due to lower tariffs. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is cautious about further interest rate cuts as the rice import ban extension could raise retail prices despite supporting farmers, emphasizing the complex interplay between agricultural policy and monetary measures.