India's wheat exports could quadruple to 8-year high as global prices rally

2021 exports seen at 4.2-4.4 mn tonnes vs 1.1 mn tonnes a yr ago * Asian buyers prefer Indian wheat due to lower freight

India's wheat exports in 2021 could quadruple from a year ago to the highest level in eight years as a rally in global prices and higher freight costs make Indian wheat lucrative for Asian buyers, two industry officials told Reuters.

Higher exports would help the world's second biggest producer bring down record inventories and provide Asian buyers with cheaper supplies amid a rally in global prices due to limited supplies from major exporters such as Russia and Canada.

India's wheat exports could rise to 4.2 million tonnes this year, the highest since 2013, Nitin Gupta, vice president at Olam Agro India, told