No ban on the non-basmati white rice export; Government has removed the minimum export price

On Wednesday, the central government removed the minimum export price (MEP) of $ 490 per tonne applicable on foreign export of non-basmati white rice. The aim of this step is to promote the rice exports. Earlier, the government had removed the ban on foreign export of non-basmati white rice and implemented the minimum export price (MEP) for export on September 28. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said, "The MEP requirement for export of non-basmati white rice has been removed with immediate effect."

The government banned the export of non-basmati rice on July 20, 2023. Now, whatever restriction on it has been lifted. These steps have been taken at a time when there is adequate stock of rice in government warehouses in the country and retail prices are also under control.

The government earlier scrapped the minimum export price on basmati rice to boost the shipments of this variety and higher returns for farmers. The country had exported non-basmati white rice worth USD 201 million during the April-August period of the current financial year, which was valued at USD 852.52 million in 2023-24.

Despite the ban on exports, the Government was allowing export of rice to Maldives, Mauritius, UAE, and African countries on the basis of friendship. This type of rice is used by only a few in India, but is in good demand from a number of countries in international markets, which have a considerable population of Indian expatriates. Due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, supply chain-related food items were disrupted all over the globe.