India extends 20% export duty on parboiled rice till March

The central government has extended the 20 per cent export duty on parboiled rice till March 31, 2024, an official notification said.

Rice, which is partially boiled with husk, is called parboiled rice.

Initially, the duty was introduced on August 25, 2023, and was due to remain effective till October 16, 2023, aimed at maintaining adequate domestic availability and checking its price.

India in July amended the rice export norms putting the non-basmati white rice in the "prohibited" category. The export policy relating to non-basmati white rice (Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed) was revised from "free" to "prohibited".

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However, it has kept open the option, where exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their government.

West African country Benin is one of the major importers of non-basmati rice from India. Other destination countries are Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Cote D' Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Vietnam, Djibouti, Madagascar, Cameroon Somalia, Malaysia, Liberia, and UAE.

In late August, India also introduced additional safeguards on exports of basmati rice so as to prevent exports of non-basmati white rice, which was already under the prohibited category since July.

The government had said it received credible field reports regarding misclassification and illegal export of non-basmati white rice. "It has been reported that non-basmati white rice is being exported under the HS codes of parboiled rice and basmati rice," the government had then said in a statement. The government noticed that despite restrictions put on certain varieties, rice exports have been high during the current year.

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