India allows export of 1.43LT non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius and Singapore

The government has permitted exports of 1.43 lakh tonnes of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius and Singapore. 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 other countries to meet their food security needs and on request.

The DGFT has notified export of 79,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, 14,000 tonnes to Mauritius and 50,000 tonnes to Singapore. "Export of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius and Singapore is notified," it said.

Meanwhile, the government has clarified that exporters who have paid the export duty before the issue of notification on the ban on rice exports on July 20 will be allowed to ship that consignment. On July 20, the government banned exports of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply. While notifying this ban order, the DGFT had specified certain consignments which can be exported.

In "relaxation" of DGFT's notification dated July 20, "export of non-basmati white rice is allowed when export duty is paid before 21:57:01 hours on July 20, 2023," the directorate had said in a notification dated August 29. It added that if the consignment has been handed over to the customs before 21:57:01 hours on July 20 and is registered in customs system for exportation before this specified time or is registered in the electronic systems of the concerned custodian of the customs station with verifiable evidence of date and time, those consignments are allowed up to October 30.

The government decided on August 27 not to allow exports of basmati rice below USD 1,200 per tonne to restrict possible "illegal" shipment of white non-basmati rice in the garb of premium basmati rice. The commerce ministry said it has directed trade promotion body APEDA not to register contracts below USD 1,200 per tonne. Existing contracts below USD 1,200 per tonne have been kept in abeyance. A committee under the chairman of APEDA will be set up to evaluate future course of action, it said.