India Grants Non-Basmati Rice Exports to Bhutan, Mauritius, and Singapore

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce, Government of India, has permitted the export of 1,43,000 metric tons (MTs) of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius, and Singapore on August 30, 2023.

The export of non-basmati white rice was banned on July 20, 2023, to boost domestic supply. However, exports are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and on request.

The export has been authorized through the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), under the provisions of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, and the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015 – 2020, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

The notification was signed by Santosh K Sarangi, Director General of Foreign Trade and Ex-Officio Additional Secretary, Government of India. It states the following permitted quantities for export:

• Export of 79,000 MTs of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan

• Export of 14,000 MTs of non-basmati white rice to Mauritius

• Export of 50,000 MTs of non-basmati white rice to Singapore.

Benefits of Exporting Non-Basmati Rice

• This move is expected to strengthen trade ties between India and the three countries

• It will further promote agricultural exports and boost the economy

• Non-Basmati white rice is a popular commodity in the markets of Bhutan, Mauritius, and Singapore therefore, the increased export opportunities will benefit Indian rice producers and exporters.

The Ministry encourages interested stakeholders to engage with the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) for further details and to facilitate smooth export operations.

For more information, please contact the Directorate General of Foreign Trade at dgft@nic.in.