India exports record 1.4m tonnes of wheat in Apr

India exported a record 1.4 million tonnes of wheat in April, four trade sources said, providing some relief to grain markets as buyers scramble for alternatives to Black Sea supplies hit hard by the war in Ukraine, reports Reuters.

April is the first month of the fiscal year in India, the world's second biggest wheat producer. It exported a record 7 million tonnes of the grain in fiscal 2021-22.

India is the only major supplier of wheat at this time of year, and its exports of the grain have surged since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

It exported just 242,857 tonnes of wheat in April 2021.

With the new season crop gathered in April, wheat shipments could rise further this month.

"In May, shipments could rise to 1.5 million tonnes," said a New Delhi-based dealer. Buyers from Asia and the Middle East are purchasing Indian wheat, as it is cheaper than alternatives, he added.