Government imposes restrictions on export of Basmati rice
The Union government has temporarily halted export of any basmati rice consignment being sold overseas for less than $1,200 a tonne, while shipments contracted above that price threshold will continue to be allowed, according to an order issued.
The move is likely to slow down the export of one of India’s most sought-after, high-value export items. The country shipped basmati rice worth over $4.79 billion in 2022-2023, mostly to the Middle-East and the US.
Battling persistent high food prices, the world’s largest exporter of the grain banned the export of all grades of non-basmati white rice on July 20, sending global prices to a 12-year high, as measured by the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) rice price index. The fresh curbs on basmati export are likely to accelerate global prices further.
A commerce ministry order reviewed by HT said the new regulations on basmati export comes after “credible information” that non-basmati rice was being shipped out using export provisions that apply to the aromatic basmati variety.