Question : Export of Basmati Rice

(a) whether the export of Basmati Rice from the country has declined considerably since May 2014 to till date;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for this decline in the said exports;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to resume normal exports through the Ministry and other channels along with the outcome thereof;
(d) the details of all major importers of Basmati rice along with the quantum of Basmati rice imported for the last five years and the current year; and
(e) the details of other basmati rice exporting countries which are supplying Basmati rice same as Indian quality and standards?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) & (b) The details of India’s export of Basmati rice, from the year 2014-15 onwards, are as under:
Quantity: lakh MT; Value: USD Million
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (Apr-May)
Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value
36.99 4516.28 40.46 3477.98 40.00 3222.26 7.96 791.66
Source: DGCI&S

As reflected in the above data, while there has been some decline in value terms, the quantity exported during 2015-16 and 2016-17 is actually higher as compared to 2014-15. This indicates that the decline in value of exports is solely due to decline in international prices of Basmati rice.

(c) Normal exports have been continuing, as reflected in the data on quantity of export of Basmati rice. However, promoting exports of agricultural commodities, including Basmati rice, is a continuous process. The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), an autonomous organisation under the administrative control of Department of Commerce, has been mandated with the export promotion of Basmati rice. APEDA has been able to register Basmati Rice as a Geographical Indication (GI) in February 2016. APEDA, in collaboration with the trade, has also established Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF), which undertakes various activities for development and export promotion of Basmati rice. Moreover, APEDA has also been providing assistance to the Basmati rice exporters under the various components of its scheme ‘Agriculture Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA’.

(d) The details in respect of the 10 largest importers of Basmati rice from India, for the last five years and the current year, are at Annexure-I.

(e) Besides India, Pakistan is the only producer and exporter of Basmati rice.

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ANNEXURE - I
10 Largest Importers of Basmati Rice from India
Quantity in lakh MT; Value in USD Million

Country 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (April - May)
Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value
Saudi Arabia 6.81 672.64 8.26 1108.90 9.67 1188.23 9.49 842.22 8.12 673.14 1.17 114.64
Iran 10.82 1187.23 14.40 1834.55 9.36 1108.50 6.95 571.19 7.19 566.87 2.54 250.09
UAE 2.35 240.42 1.48 196.51 2.79 314.76 6.12 475.18 6.16 468.68 0.60 62.63
Iraq 2.04 196.73 2.20 271.14 2.35 259.13 4.18 340.97 4.57 339.91 1.25 126.98
Kuwait 1.63 194.73 1.76 247.95 1.66 250.53 1.81 211.68 1.63 149.47 0.24 23.75
U S A 0.92 103.18 1.03 143.86 0.89 132.30 1.21 131.55 1.09 112.84 0.18 21.25
Yemen 1.72 161.11 1.47 183.94 1.74 196.15 1.42 110.49 1.31 103.58 0.27 24.41
U K 1.92 156.08 1.19 130.73 1.36 147.63 1.88 143.14 1.52 102.39 0.25 19.54
Oman 0.40 44.88 0.43 58.63 0.56 68.83 1.05 92.84 0.83 75.72 0.14 16.42
Qatar 0.61 73.59 0.30 43.14 1.24 187.09 0.24 25.07 0.82 72.49 0.12 13.63
Source: APEDA/agriXchange
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