On 1 July, the Government announced the further extension of the zero duty on wheat exports until 1 July 2021. The wheat export duty was suspended in September 2016 (FPMA Food Policies) for a period of a two years and then extended until 1 July 2019. The measure aims to stimulate exports amid ample domestic supplies and favourable prospects for the 2019 wheat crop, despite persisting concerns over dry weather in some areas. In the recently completed 2018/19 marketing year (July/June), wheat shipments are preliminarily estimated at 35 million tonnes, about 30 percent above average and exports in the new marketing year are forecast to increase further.