On 17 July, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Government of Pakistan imposed a ban on the exports of wheat and wheat flour. Below-average irrigation water supplies and reduced precipitation at the start of the season resulted in a lower-than-expected wheat output this year. Although domestic availabilities are estimated to be still adequate at country level, the Government decided to halt wheat exports amid raising concerns over a hike in the domestic prices of wheat products and because of the reduced volume of wheat procured this year compared to a year earlier. In the 2017/18 and 2018/19 marketing years (May/April), Pakistan exported 795 000 tonnes and 994 000 tonnes of wheat, respectively, representing 3-4 percent of the annual output. The main importing countries are Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and some African countries.