India wheat export ban: Why it matters to the world
By Shruti Menon
matter [ˈmætə(r)] v. 要紧
It matters. 它很重要。
It matters to…… 对……很重要 India has defended its decision to ban wheat exports after criticism that it could worsen the global food supply situation in the wake of the Ukraine war.
India has defended its decision to ban wheat exports. The decision, which had previously been criticized, was seen as exacerbating global food supply tensions caused by the war in Ukraine.
defend [dɪˈfend] v. 保卫；为……辩护
worsen [ˈwɜːsn] v. （使）恶化
in the wake of 紧紧跟随；随着……而来 "If everyone starts to impose export restrictions... that would worsen the crisis," German Food and Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir said after the ban was announced in May.
"If every country starts to impose export restrictions ... That will exacerbate the crisis," German Food and Agriculture Minister Jem Ozdimir said after India announced the ban in May.
impose [ɪmˈpəʊz] v. 强制推行，强制实行 But India's Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, says the export ban should not affect global markets because it is not a major wheat exporter.
But India's commerce minister, Piyush Goyar, said the export ban would not affect global markets because India is not a major wheat exporter.
So what has been the impact of India's move?
So, what is the impact of India's decision to ban wheat exports?
Global wheat prices rise
Global wheat prices are rising
India's ban was announced on 13 May, after unseasonably hot weather affected the wheat crop, sending local prices soaring.
India's ban was announced on May 13 after unusually hot weather affected wheat crops, causing local wheat prices to soar.
unseasonably [ʌnˈsiːznəbli] adv. 不合时令地；不合时宜地
soar [sɔː(r)] v. （数量、价值、水平、规模等）急升，猛涨 Although India is not a major wheat exporter, the move unsettled global markets with the Chicago benchmark wheat index rising by nearly 6%.
Although India is not a major wheat exporter, the move has shaken global markets, with the Chicago benchmark wheat index rising nearly 6 percent.
unsettle [ʌnˈset(ə)l] v. 使动摇；使不安定
benchmark [ˈbentʃmɑːk] n. 基准
index [ˈɪndeks] n.（物价和工资等）指数 The prices of some of the main types of wheat rose for several days, peaking on 17 to 18 May.
Prices of some major wheat varieties rose for several consecutive days, peaking on May 17 and 18.
peak [piːk] v. 达到高峰，达到最大值；n. 巅峰，顶点 Wheat prices had risen throughout March and April after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as had the prices of other foodstuffs.
After the Russo-Ukrainian War, wheat prices rose throughout March and April, as did the prices of other foodstuffs.
foodstuff [ˈfuːdstʌf] n. 食品，食物 Disruption caused by the war means that millions of tonnes of wheat have been unable to leave Ukraine, which is one of the world's biggest exporters.
The disruption caused by the war has prevented millions of tons of wheat from leaving Ukraine, one of the world's largest exporters.
disruption [dɪsˈrʌpʃn] n. 妨碍，扰乱 Kelly Goughary, of the agriculture data research group Gro Intelligence, explains that India's ban led to a further price surge because "global buyers were depending on supplies from India after exports from the Black Sea region plunged".
Kelly Gauger of Agricultural Data Research Group Gro Intelligence explained that India's ban caused prices to soar further as "global buyers rely on Indian supplies after exports plummeted in the Black Sea region"
surge [sɜːdʒ] n. 激增，猛增；v. 急剧上升，激增
plunge [plʌndʒ] v. 骤降 Who's been affected by India's ban?
Who was affected by India's wheat export ban?
India is the world's second biggest wheat producer, but accounts for less than 1% of the global wheat trade. It keeps a lot of it to provide subsidised food for the poor.
India is the world's second-largest wheat producer, but accounts for less than 1% of global wheat trade. It retains large amounts of food for the poor as subsidized food.
account for （比例）占
subsidised [ˈsʌbsɪdaɪzd] adj. 补贴的，补助的 But just before announcing the ban, India was aiming to boost exports by shipping a record 10 million tonnes of wheat this year - compared with just two million last year.
But just before the ban was announced, India was trying to expand wheat exports, planning to export a record 10 million tons of wheat this year, compared to just 2 million tons last year.
It was offering supplies to new markets in Asia and Africa, and even after the ban, several countries said they were in touch with India to keep exports going.
It supplies wheat to new markets in Asia and Africa, and even after the ban, some countries said they were in contact with India to keep it exporting.
India says some countries will still receive wheat exports, and that it will "continue to assist neighbours in their hour of need."
India said some countries would still receive wheat exports and would "continue to help neighbors when they need it."
in one’s hour of need 在某人困难的时刻 Its top export markets are Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka - as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Its largest export markets are Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as the United Arab Emirates.
In 2019-20, Sri Lanka and UAE imported more than 50% of their wheat from India, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), and Nepal imported more than 90%.
According to the Observatory on Economic Complexity, in 2019-20, sri Lanka and the UAE imported more than 50% of wheat from India, while Nepal accounted for more than 90%.
It is not yet clear whether these countries will still get Indian wheat under existing contracts, or will receive supplies under future deals.
It is unclear whether these countries will still receive Indian wheat under existing contracts or will receive supplies based on future transactions.
It is not yet clear 目前尚不清楚 However, Egypt says that government purchases of Indian wheat will continue. It's one of the biggest importers of wheat globally.
However, Egypt said the government would continue to buy Indian wheat. Egypt is one of the world's largest importers of wheat.
The International Monetary Fund has called on India to reconsider the export ban, saying it could play a significant role in helping alleviate the current wheat supply crisis for those countries most affected by the war in Ukraine.
The IMF has called on India to reconsider the export ban, saying it could play an important role in helping those countries most affected by the war in Ukraine ease the current wheat supply crisis.
International Monetary Fund 国际货币基金
call on 呼吁; 公开请求
alleviate [əˈliːvieɪt] v. 减轻，缓和 Bad weather and fertiliser prices
Bad weather and fertilizer prices
fertiliser [ˈfɜːtəlaɪzə(r)] n. 化肥 Apart from the war in Ukraine, the weather has had an impact in some major wheat-exporting countries.
In addition to the war in Ukraine, the weather also had an impact on some major wheat exporters.
"Drought, floods and heat waves threaten crops in some other major producers [US, Canada and France]," says Kelly Goughary of Gro Intelligence.
"Droughts, floods and heat waves threaten crops in other major producing countries like the United States, Canada and France," said Kelly Gauger of Gro Intelligence.
Global wheat production for the 2022-23 period will be the lowest for four years, and global stocks of wheat are predicted to be at their lowest for six years, according to a US government report.
According to a U.S. government report, global wheat production in 2022-23 will be the lowest level in four years, and global wheat stocks are expected to be at their lowest level in six years.
predict [prɪˈdɪkt] v. 预计
be predicted to预测 Gro Intelligence also points out that global fertiliser prices have tripled over the past year, risking "significant" reductions in crop yields this year.
Gro Intelligence also noted that global fertilizer prices have tripled over the past year, putting crop yields at risk of a "significant" decline this year.
triple [ˈtrɪp(ə)l] v. （使）成为三倍
yield [jiːld] n. 产量；v. 产生（收益、效益等），产生（结果） It estimates that this - together with other factors - means global wheat stocks are down to their lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis.
Gro Intelligence estimates that this, along with other factors, could cause global wheat stocks to fall to their lowest levels since the 2008 financial crisis.
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