The International Grains Council has lowered its estimate for global wheat production for 2018-19 to 721.0 mln tn from 736.8 mln tn seen in its previous report. A record 758.1 mln tn wheat was produced globally in 2017-18. The forecast for 2018-19 has been slashed mainly because output in Russia, Ukraine, China, European Union and Australia is seen falling. Unfavourable weather conditions in key wheat growing regions of the world is expected to lead to a decline in output. Following a reduction in output projection, global wheat inventory in 2018-19 is also seen down at 247.2 mln tn from 255.6 mln tn forecast earlier. The agency has slashed its estimate for global wheat imports in 2018-19 marginally to 176.0 mln tn from 176.5 mln tn seen earlier. India’s wheat imports in 2018-19 are seen at 900,000 tn, unchanged from the projection made in July. It also maintained the country’s wheat output estimate for 2018-19 at 95.5 mln tn. The agency had estimated the country’s wheat production in 2017-18 at 98.5 mln tn.