International Grains Council expects India to be a larger importer of wheat in 2018-19, with global trade in the grain seen at a record high underpinned by strong shipments to Africa and Asia. Though demand is seen increasing, global wheat output in 2018-19 is seen contracting 2% on year to 742.0 mln tn. For 2017-18, the council has pegged global wheat production at a record high of 757.4 mln tn due to larger crop in the European Union and Russia. The estimate is sharply higher than 748.9 mln tn estimated in November and also higher than the record 754.5 mln tn harvested in 2016-17. Global consumption of wheat in 2017-18 is seen at 743.6 mln tn, up from the previous estimate of 741.6 mln tn