Non-basmati Exports

The country's agri exports are expected to cross USD 50 billion in 2024-25 on account of healthy demand and lifting on curbs on non-basmati rice, an official said on Tuesday. The official said export curbs on rice, wheat, and sugar impact agri exports to the tune of about USD 6-7 billion. "But now the curbs have been removed on rice, we expect that the agri exports will cross USD 50 billion. So far the trend is good, though the growth rate is not positive but as now rice is opened, by December-end, we will be in the positive zone," the official added. Rice exports are likely to reach 17-18 million tonnes this fiscal year as against 14-15 million tonnes last year. "It will give a big boost to exports," the official said, adding that basmati shipments may touch 5.5 million tonnes, while parboiled could be around 7-8 million tonnes and over 4 million tonnes of non-basmati rice. The main commodities, which are registering healthy growth included fruits, vegetables, meat and its produc

Stakeholders of West Bengal's rice industry on Saturday heaved a sigh of relief after the Centre removed the ban on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice. The government's move is expected to help reopen 500-600 rice mills in the state, which had been closed for the past one year due to a slump in demand in the wake of export restrictions, Bengal Rice Mills Association president Sushil Kumar Choudhury said. The lifting of the ban on exports will also enable farmers to fetch better prices over the minimum support price (MSP), he said. "The removal of the export ban will not only boost the operation of rice mills but also improve the average realisation for farmers, which had been subdued in the past year. Of the 1,400-1,500 mills in West Bengal, 500-600 had been closed due to weak export demand and mounting losses," Choudhury told PTI. On average, each mill directly and indirectly employs around 500 people, he said. Earlier in the day, the government removed the blanket ban

The government is mulling lifting the ban on export of certain varieties of non-basmati rice, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Wednesday. "It (lifting of export ban on white rice) is also under consideration of the government. These things are dynamic and we will take an appropriate decision depending on the requirement and stocks available," Chopra told reporters. Export of non-basmati white rice has been banned since July 20, 2023 to boost domestic supply. The government has extended 20 per cent export duty on parboiled rice indefinitely. The secretary said there is ample stock of rice in the government godowns and retail prices are also under control.

The government has permitted exports of two lakh tonne of non-basmati white rice to Malaysia, through National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL). Though exports of non-basmati white rice have been banned since July 20, 2023, to boost domestic supply, exports are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to certain countries to meet their food security needs on request. "Exports of 2,00,000 MT of non-basmati white rice...to Malaysia is permitted through NCEL," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a notification. India has earlier also allowed these exports to countries like Nepal, Cameroon, Cote D' Ivore, Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles. NCEL is a multi-state cooperative society. It is jointly promoted by some of the leading cooperative societies in the country, namely, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) popularly known as AMUL, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative

India has exported non-basmati white rice worth USD 122.7 million during April-May this fiscal and the government is closely monitoring its production, availability and export scenario to assess suitable policy intervention, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. The exports stood at USD 852.53 million in 2023-24, USD 2.2 billion in 2022-23 and USD 2 billion in 2021-22, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. He informed the export of non-basmati white rice is banned at present since July 20, 2023. However, export is allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their government. Accordingly, Prasada said the export of non-basmati white rice has been allowed to the different countries. So far this fiscal, India has exported this rice to Maldives (1,24,218.36 MT), Mauritius (14,000 MT), Malawi (1,000 MT), Zimbabwe (1,000

India on Monday allowed the export of 1,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice to Namibia through National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL). Though exports of non-basmati white rice have been banned since July 20, 2023, to boost domestic supply, exports are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to certain countries to meet their food security needs on request. "Export of 1,000 MTs of non-basmati white rice to Namibia is permitted through NCEL, " the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said. India's export of non-basmati white rice was USD 122.7 million in April-May and USD 852.53 million in the entire 2023-24. The country has earlier also allowed such exports to countries like Nepal, Cameroon, Cote D' Ivore, Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles. NCEL is a multi-state cooperative society. It is jointly promoted by some of the leading cooperative societies in the country, namely Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), popularly

New Delhi is expected to lower the basmati rice's minimum export price (MEP) to $800-$850 a metric ton, down from $950 a ton, to boost shipments

Ministers to review rice export restrictions amid rising central pool stocks and growing ethanol demand as non-basmati traders hit hardest since curbs began in August 2023

The government has permitted exports of 30,000 tonne of non-basmati white rice to Tanzania and 80,000 tonne of broken rice to Djibouti and Guinea Bissau. The export is permitted through National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a notification. Though exports of non-basmati white rice have been banned since July 20, 2023 to boost domestic supply, exports are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to certain countries to meet their food security needs on request. Tanzania is an East African nation, while Djibouti is at the northeast coast of the African continent. Guinea-Bissau is a tropical country in West Africa. According to the notification, exports of 30,000 tonne of broken rice are allowed to Djibouti and 50,000 tonne to Guinea Bissau. India has earlier also allowed these exports to countries like Nepal, Cameroon, Cote D' Ivore, Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles. NCEL is a multi-

Data shows that though initially non-basmati rice exports remained unaffected but it started dropping soon thereafter

India's agri export basket is dependent on just five commodities including rice and sugar and this makes the sector vulnerable to fluctuations in global prices and demand, a report by economic think tank GTRI said on Monday. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said these five products -- basmati rice, non-basmati rice, sugar, spices, and oil meals -- account for 51.5 per cent of India's total agriculture exports. Furthermore, India grapples with various domestic challenges including infrastructural deficits, quality control issues, and non-tariff barriers, all of which impede the growth and competitiveness of its agricultural sector, it said. "This makes them (agri exports) vulnerable to fluctuations in global prices and demand," it said, adding these commodities also face frequent export bans in India. At present export of non-basmati rice is currently banned from India and India is also fighting at the WTO (World Trade Organisation) to protect subsidies to rice and wheat

Basmati rice export in contrast up 5.7% despite MEP

The government on Wednesday said it has permitted exports of 10,34,800 tonnes of non-basmati white rice to seven countries, including Nepal, Cameroon and Malaysia. The export is permitted through National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. Though exports of non-basmati white rice were banned on July 20 to boost domestic supply, exports are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to certain countries to meet their food security needs and on request. "Export of non-basmati white rice... to Nepal, Cameroon, Cote D' Ivore, Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles is notified," it said. The quantity notified for Nepal is 95,000 tonnes, Cameroon (1,90,000 tonnes), Cote D' Ivore (1,42,000 tonnes), Guinea (1,42,000 tonnes), Malaysia (1,70,000 tonnes), Philippines (2,95,000 tonnes), and Seychelles (800 tonnes).

Representatives from Japan, Australia, Brazil, the EU, the UK, and the US raised concerns over the impact of the ban on the global food market

India last week suspended exports of non-basmati varieties of rice after heavy monsoon rainfall damaged newly planted crops due to be harvested in winter

Earlier this month, the government stepped in to procure tomatoes from certain centres to redistribute them in regions of high consumption to bring down prices

The government on Thursday prohibited export of non-basmati white rice, according to a notification of the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT). "Export policy of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)...is amended from free to prohibited," the DGFT said in a notification. However, it said that the consignments of this rice will be allowed to be exported under certain conditions such as where loading of this rice on the ship has commenced before this notification. Export will also be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments, it added.

The government on Tuesday lifted the ban on exports of organic non-basmati rice, including broken rice after the easing of domestic supplies moderated prices. The government had, in early September, banned the export of broken rice with an aim to increase domestic availability. This followed a 20 per cent duty on the export of non-basmati rice aimed at shoring up domestic supplies after prices surged in retail markets. In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said the export of organic non-basmati rice, including organic non-basmati broken rice, will now be governed by rules that prevailed before the September ban.

Basmati rice prices up 10-15% this year; may rise further as crop is 7-8% down

The restrictions were placed, because sowing has not been up to expectations on account of irregularities in rainfall