A day after removing the export duty, the Centre on Saturday revised the export policy for non-basmati white rice from “prohibited” to “free,” but imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $490 per tonne. A notification to this effect was issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). “The export policy of Non-Basmati White rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed: Other) under HS code 10063090 is amended from ‘prohibited’ to ‘free’ subject to MEP of $490/tonne with immediate effect and until further orders,” states the DGFT order. The DGFT order came a day after the Centre removed the export duty on non-basmati white rice. According to the notification, which came into effect immediately, the export duty on “semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed (other than parboiled rice and basmati rice)” has been reduced to “nil” from the current rate of 20 per cent. The Finance Ministry also reduced the export duty on three categories of non-basmati rice. The export duty on rice in the husk (paddy or rough), husked (brown) rice, and parboiled rice has been cut from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, according to the notification. India had banned the export of non-basmati white rice in July of last year to boost domestic supply. While the Centre had banned shipments of non-basmati white rice, it had allowed exports through the newly formed National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL). In the financial year 2023-24, India exported 23.59 lakh tonnes of non-basmati white rice, with the largest quantities shipped to Kenya, Mozambique, and Cameroon. During the first four months (April-July) of the current financial year, 3.96 lakh tonnes of non-basmati white rice were exported, with about 1 lakh tonnes shipped to Malaysia, followed by Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire.
