India Permits Rice Exports to 7 Additional Countries, Including Non-Basmati Varieties
Published on: October 19, 2023.
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India Lifts Ban on Export of Non-Basmati White Rice to Several Countries
India has recently announced that it will allow the export of non-basmati white rice to several countries including Nepal, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles. This decision to lift the ban on the export of non-basmati white rice comes after it was prohibited on July 20 in an effort to stabilize domestic prices and ensure food security within the country.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated in its notification on October 18 that the exports to these countries will be facilitated through the National Cooperative Exports Limited. This move follows the previous permission granted by India for the export of non-basmati white rice to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore.
The DGFT emphasized that the export of non-basmati white rice will only be allowed based on the government’s permission to meet the food security needs of other countries and upon their request. Among the major importers of non-basmati rice from India is the West African country of Benin. Additionally, countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Vietnam, Djibouti, Madagascar, Cameroon, Somalia, Malaysia, and Liberia are also significant destinations for Indian non-basmati white rice.
To further regulate the export policy, India recently introduced additional measures by implementing a minimum floor price on basmati rice exports. This step aims to prevent the export of non-basmati white rice, which had already been categorized as prohibited since July.
In another development, the Indian government extended the 20% export duty on parboiled rice until March 31, 2024. Parboiled rice refers to rice that is partially boiled with the husk. The initial duty was imposed on August 25, 2023, and was set to expire on October 16, 2023. This measure is intended to ensure sufficient domestic availability of parboiled rice and stabilize its price.
It is worth mentioning that India had previously banned the export of broken rice in September 2022 and imposed a 20% duty on non-basmati rice exports, excluding parboiled rice. However, the ban on broken rice was lifted in November.
This news demonstrates India’s renewed approach to rice exports, allowing non-basmati white rice to be sold to various countries. By lifting the ban, India seeks to balance domestic needs while making its high-quality rice available to international markets.
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