India banned wheat exports on Saturday, just days after saying it was targeting record shipments this year, as a scorching heat wave curtailed output and domestic prices soared to an all-time high.
The government said it would still allow exports backed by already issued letters of credit and to those countries that request supplies "to meet their food security needs."
Global buyers were banking on supplies from the world's second-biggest wheat producer after exports from the Black Sea region plunged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February. Prior to the ban, India had aimed to ship a record 10 million metric tons this year.