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Russian wheat export prices fell due to low activity in the market ahead of the new crop arrival this summer and because of a continuing trade dispute with Turkey. Russia exported 29.8 million tonnes of grain, including 23.0 million tonnes of wheat down 0.5 percent year-on-year. Russia wheat crop is expected to fall this year, but the country stockpile remains high after a record crop in 2016, and the number of sale offers from farmers is rising. Russia grain stocks at farms and procurement and processing companies, excluding small farms, were up 19 percent from a year earlier at 28.3 million tonnes. Domestic prices for third-class wheat fell 100 roubles compared with the week earlier to 9,500 roubles ($170) a tonne in the European part of Russia on an ex-works basis. Farmers had sown spring grains on 11 percent of the planned area, or on 3.4 million hectares, compared with 4.2 million hectares a year ago.

The offtake of imported wheat from ports in south India has picked up due to good demand from millers and Stuckists in the region. Traders in south India imported wheat is cheaper than that ordered from northern part of the country. South Indian buyers do not expect prices to fall and are resorting to the imported grain. At present, there is nearly 1.3 million tonne wheat stocked at ports and it is likely to be sold in the next two-to-three months. In south India, imported wheat is available at low cost as compare to domestic wheat costs.

Prices of wheat rose in the benchmark market of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, as arrivals fell due to government procurement in the state. In Indore, arrivals had peaked around 20,000 bags (1bag=100kg). Arrivals fell sharply to 5,000 bags. The grain was sold up 20-30 rupees from previous close. The government has procured 3.6 million tonne of wheat in Madhya Pradesh since the beginning of April, up nearly 15% on year. The most active May contract of wheat on the NCDEX ended down 0.9% from the previous close.