After the ban on export of wheat, loaded trucks and ships stranded at the port of Gujarat

The sudden announcement of a ban on export of wheat at Deendayal Port in Gujarat's Kutch district has created panic, with exporters and traders uncertain about the future of their goods. 

According to officials, around 4 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of wheat stranded outside the port belongs to traders from Madhya Pradesh alone - some still in trucks, some already loaded with wheat in godowns.

The port mainly receives wheat from Punjab, UP and MP for export to Middle-East and European countries. An official of what was earlier known as Kandla Port said, “There are more than 32 big godowns inside the port. Many of them are filled with consignments of wheat. The fare for warehouse or storage charges levied at the port has also increased from Rs 10 per tonne to Rs 25. There is no space and wheat is now lying in the open.

The government has allowed their shipments for which irrevocable letters of credit (LCs) were issued before the ban was notified on Saturday and also allowed consignments requested by governments of other countries to ensure food security.