Indian Wheat Sizzles

A hot and dry finish to the growing season could be causing premature ripening and kernel shrivelling in key Indian wheat growing areas, according to Gail Martell of Martell Crop Projections.

Above normal temperatures have been the rule for more than a month, and rainfall has largely been absent this spring, says Gail.

A separate report here suggests that production in the Punjab, which accounts for around a quarter of Indian wheat output, could be cut by 20%.

Production in the western half of India's top wheat producing region of Uttar Pradesh, and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh also look like being affected. And things probably aren't looking too good over the border in Pakistan either. These two were expecting a crop of more than 100 MMT this year.