Non-basmati exports may rebound as India attracts new customers

After virtually a 40 per cent drop in shipments all through final economical yr, India’s non-basmati rice exports are established for a rebound this yr on demand from new purchasers these types of as Malaysia and the Philippines, exporters stated. Firming rates, coupled with a drop in rupee, is viewed aiding the shipments of the cereal.

“The demand from new purchasers these types of as Malaysia and the Philippines ought to help the restoration in exports this yr,” stated BV Krishna Rao, President of the Rice Exporters Affiliation.

Non-competitive pricing

The non-basmati rice exports slumped by about 40 per cent to five-six million tonnes in 2019-20, in accordance to trade estimates. This drop was predominantly on account of larger rates owing to the increase in minimal help price (MSP) of paddy that strike the competitiveness of the Indian cereal in abroad sector.

Formal export figures for 2019-20 are nonetheless to be unveiled by the Agriculture and Processed Food items Exports Growth Authority (APEDA), which screens the non-basmati rice shipments. As per the newest details from APEDA, non-basmati rice exports for April-January 2019-20 time period stood at four.01 million tonnes, about 36 per cent lower than the corresponding time period prior yr.

Slide in exports

In value conditions, non-basmati rice shipments had been down 35 per cent at $1.63 billion ($two.50 billion in exact same time period final yr). India has been the major exporter of rice, right after the exports of non-basmati rice had been allowed from 2011. India, the 2nd major producer and top exporter of rice, competes with countries these types of as Thailand and Vietnam in the marketplaces of Africa and Asia.

However worldwide rates have firmed up in recent months on short provides in the Asian countries, Indian rates are still competitive, attracting purchasers, Rao stated. Indian rice rates for parboiled and five per cent brokens, which hovered close to $375 a quintal in February are quoted at $400-420 per tonne FOB to African countries.

Vietnam rates are in the range of $460-470 and Thai rates close to $five hundred. “The weakening of rupee by seven-eight per cent has aided us to be competitive,” Rao stated. Having said that, exporters are careful about the African marketplaces as the slump in oil rates could slacken the demand in some countries.

Shipments resume

Rao stated the rice shipments, which had been disrupted by the Covid pandemic, have resumed on a sluggish rate.

India’s rice creation for 2019-20 is approximated at an all-time superior of 117 million tonnes, as per the 2nd progress estimates. Rice stocks with the Food stuff Company of India stood at 27.sixty six million tonnes as on May possibly four.