He declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak
with media.
"Exports fell after government imposed the export duty, but
very soon exports revived. In December, India managed to export
more than 2 million tonnes," the official said on Tuesday.
In 2022, non-basmati rice shipments stood at 17.86 million
tonnes, while premium basmati rice exports were 4.4 million
tonnes, the official added.
India exports non-basmati rice mainly to Africa and Asia,
while basmati rice goes to the Middle East, the United States
and Britain.
An export duty on Indian non-basmati rice shipments spiked
prices but buyers soon returned, as Thailand and Vietnam were
offering rice at an even higher price, said Nitin Gupta, vice
president of Olam India's rice business.
Indian rice is the cheapest and that's why exports would
remain strong in 2023, he said.
India has been offering 25% broken white rice at around $430
per tonne, while Vietnam was offering the same grade at around
$440 and Thailand at around $500, a dealer said.
Despite higher exports, India has ample domestic stocks,
said B.V. Krishna Rao, president, Rice Exporters Association of
India.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
By Rajendra Jadhav
MUMBAI, Jan 31 (Reuters) - India's rice exports in 2022
jumped to a record high despite the government's curbs on
overseas sale, as buyers continued to make purchases from the
South Asian country because of competitive prices, according to
government and industry officials.
The record exports allowed Asian and African countries to
import the staple at a time when supplies of wheat and other
grains were hit by drought and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
India, the world's biggest rice exporter, in September
banned exports of broken rice and slapped a 20% export tax on
some non-basmati varieties as erratic monsoon cut production.
India's rice exports in 2022 rose 3.5% from a year ago to
22.26 million tonnes, or more than the combined exports of the
next four largest exporters Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and
United States, a top government official told Reuters.
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