Informist, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025

--Govt source: Wheat open mkt sales may start by month end

By Pallavi Singhal

NEW DELHI – The government is likely to begin open market sales of wheat by the end of this month, a senior government official told Informist. The government typically begins sale of wheat in the open market from July or August but did not do so this year citing comfortable prices.

According to a statement by the food secretary on the sidelines of an event organised by the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) in New Delhi Thursday, 3 million tonnes has been set aside for these sales. The government has set a reserve price of INR 2,550 per 100 kg for open-market sales of wheat in the rabi marketing year 2025-26 (Apr-Mar).

In FY25, the government sold only 3 million tonnes of wheat under the open market sales scheme as it prioritised rebuilding its stock reserves. The reserve price was INR 2,325 per 100 kg. In FY24, the government sold 9.4 million tonnes of wheat, an all-time high, under the scheme to check prices in view of General Elections. The reserve price for fair and average quality wheat in FY24 was INR 2,150 per 100 kg, and INR 2,125 for reduced-specification wheat.

Unlike the last two years, the government's wheat purchases this year are 30.1 million tonnes, higher than 26.6 million tonnes procured in FY25. However, the government's wheat procurement is short of its revised target of 33.3 million tonnes for FY26.

"While 3 million tonnes have been allotted right now, the quota may be increased if needed. However, government is keen to build up its wheat reserves which got depleted the past two years and may not want to sell too much wheat this year if prices remain stable and manageable," the official said. The government easily has the capacity to sell about 6 million tonnes of wheat this year, the official said. End

Edited by Ashish Shirke

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.