Rice exports jump 52% in Apr-May

Non-basmati rice exports are noticed rebounding this 12 months as the shipments have begun on a powerful be aware registering around 52 for every cent development in the very first two months of the present-day money 12 months.

Solid demand from classic prospective buyers in Africa and probably worry buying by some nations around the world even as the Covid-19 pandemic tightened its grip across the environment for the duration of this period of time fuelled the rice shipments, exporters said.

Shipments for the duration of April-May possibly this 12 months stood at 11.13 lakh tonnes as towards 7.three lakh in the similar period of time last 12 months, in accordance to DGCIS’ most current figures. In value conditions, the exports were being up sixty three for every cent at ₹3,429 crore as as opposed to ₹2,097 crore. In greenback value, the shipments were being up fifty six for every cent at $452 million as as opposed to $289 million recorded in the similar period of time last 12 months.

“There is a rebound in exports of non-basmati rice,” said BV Krishna Rao, President, The Rice Exporters Association. Rao attributed the spurt in shipments to the rebound in demand from classic prospective buyers in the African area and also to the variables these kinds of as favourable forex, the availability shares and aggressive pricing of the Indian cereal.

Progress in cargo

“Countries could have purchased a lot more rice for the duration of this period of time to safe their food stuff supplies as the Covid-19 pandemic was tightening its gripped close to the environment. These worry buying could be attributed to close to 10 for every cent development in shipments for the duration of this period of time,” Rao said.

Apart from African nations and Nepal, the non-basmati rice shipments has picked up in Malaysia, Philippines and Russia, among other nations around the world.

India, the 2nd-most significant producer of rice, has been the most significant exporter of the cereal after shipments of non-basmati were being allowed from 2011. On the other hand, the non-basmati rice shipments had witnessed a decrease in the previous two decades after the Indian cereal had turned highly-priced. On the other hand, with Asian players these kinds of as Thailand and Vietnam struggling with supply challenges, Indian rice has turned aggressive in the latest months. “We are at minimum 10 for every cent reduced than Thai parboiled rice,” Rao said, incorporating that if demand from Bangladesh picks up, the shipments could increase to 2017-eighteen concentrations.

 

The regular development in rice production has been aiding the exports. From close to ninety six million tonnes in 2010-11, rice production is noticed touching an all-time substantial of 117.94 million tonnes in 2019-twenty. In the ongoing kharif year, rice planting has been greater by seventeen for every cent at 321 lakh ha till August 7.

The basmati shipments for the duration of April-May possibly were being marginally up in volumes at 8.seventy four lakh tonnes (8.64 lakh tonnes in the similar period of time last 12 months). On the other hand, in value conditions, the shipments registered a decrease at ₹5,970 crore (₹6,488 crore) owing to weak pricing.