India grants permission for rice shipments to Philippines and other importing nations
Published on: October 19, 2023.
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India to Resume Non-Basmati White Rice Exports to the Philippines and Other Countries
India, the largest exporter of rice in the world, has announced that it will once again allow the export of non-basmati white rice to several countries, including the Philippines. The decision comes after a temporary ban on exports and the imposition of a 20% tax on parboiled rice cargoes in order to stabilize local prices and ensure an adequate supply in the domestic market.
However, India has stated that it will still consider requests for rice supplies from countries in need on a case-by-case basis. In the case of the Philippines, India has agreed to supply 295,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice to help address the country’s struggle with inflation and its efforts to control rice prices.
Aside from the Philippines, India will also export non-basmati white rice to Nepal, Cameroon, Malaysia, Seychelles, Ivory Coast, and the Republic of Guinea. The total amount of rice to be sold to these countries will exceed 1 million metric tons.
In August, India also permitted some rice exports to Bhutan, Mauritius, and Singapore. However, it is unlikely that India will accept any further requests for rice supplies until farmers have completed harvesting their new-season crop. The cultivation of rice this year has seen an increase in planted areas, but uneven rainfall in certain regions of the country may affect crop yields.
The Indian government aims to strengthen its reserves by purchasing significant quantities of the new season’s harvest from farmers. A larger crop and increased government purchases will alleviate concerns about potential shortages in the local market.
Additionally, the government has reported that Indian farmers produced 135.7 million metric tons of rice in the previous crop year, up from 129.4 million metric tons in the year before. Wheat output also increased to 110.5 million metric tons, compared to the previous year’s 107.7 million metric tons.
This decision to resume non-basmati white rice exports is expected to have a positive impact on the international rice market and provide relief to countries in need of rice supplies.
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