Wheat flour supply unaffected by Indian ban, says ministry

 

The ministry said that over 2,200 enforcement personnel will ensure the supply of subsidised and non-subsidised flour is stable in the market. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The supply of wheat flour in the country is not likely to be affected by India’s wheat export ban which was imposed following a heatwave in the country.

According to the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry, Malaysia imports 80% of its wheat from Australia, with the balance coming from the United States, Canada and Ukraine.

“Therefore, India’s wheat export ban following the heatwave will not affect the supply of wheat flour in the country,” the ministry said on Twitter today.

A total of 2,200 enforcement personnel would be monitoring the situation to ensure the supply of subsidised and non-subsidised flour was stable in the market, it added.

India’s trade ministry, in a notice dated May 13, announced that India had stopped the export of wheat with immediate effect to ensure its own food security.

Wheat export to other countries would only be allowed on the approval of the government and would be based on the demand of their government.

India exported seven million tonnes of wheat worth about US$2 billion (RM8.78 billion) in the 2021-22 financial year and half of it was bought by Bangladesh.

Recent media reports said the production of wheat in India this year had been affected by the heatwave. Apart from that, the country was also facing rising inflation following high global prices of the commodity. - FMT