7,580 tonnes of imported rice delivered at Benapole as Indian Customs budges
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Food Adviser Tapan Chowdhury Tuesday said he is looking for alternative sources for rice import as India raised the price sharply, reports UNB.
Talking to newsmen, he said a decision has already been taken to import 100 thousand (one lakh) tonnes of rice from Thailand.
Import of another 75,000 tonnes from that country is under active consideration, he added.
"We are considering rice import from other countries like Thailand, Myanmar and Pakistan. We are also examining the quantum to meet the domestic demand," Chowdhury said when asked if the government will buy rice from India at the enhanced price.
India on December 27 raised the minimum export price of rice to 500 dollars per tonne, for the third time in less than a year, from 315 dollars per tonne in February last.
In November, India withdrew ban on rice export to Bangladesh in view of the difficulties caused by the devastating cyclone. But later the country imposed a number of conditions and finally raised the minimum price to 500 dollars on December 27.
Tapan Chowdhury said the government has taken a move to change the rice import policy to facilitate import from other countries.
He said India had promised to export 500 thousand tonnes to Bangladesh. "We hope they will sell to us at the earlier price," he added.
He said traders favour import from India because of low carrying cost. But they will now look for alternative sources.
However, another report from Benapole adds: Trucks unloaded hundreds of tonnes of rice at the Benapole landport Tuesday as the Indian customs authority yielded to the pressure of exporters for allowing delivery of consignments, for which L/Cs (Letters of Credit) were opened at 425 dollars per tonne.
About 7,580 tonnes of rice were delivered at the Benapole landport during the whole day Tuesday.
The Indian customs authority at Petrapole had obstructed rice export since Sunday saying that export at less than 500 dollars per tonne is forbidden by the government. Exporters argued that the enhanced price was effective from December 27.
L/Cs opened before December 27 at the minimum export price fixed by the government should be honoured. The customs authority finally yielded.
Benapole customs officials said a record quantity of rice was imported Tuesday through this landport. Another 10 to 12 thousand tonnes waiting in the queue at Petrapole are likely to be delivered in next couple of days.
According to the importers, another 60 to 70 thousand tonnes will come, for which L/Cs opened before the Indian government raised the minimum export. They said they would wait and see before buying Indian rice at the enhanced price of 500 dollars and above per tonne.
Traders expressed hope that the bulk delivery of Indian rice might leave a soothing impact on the domestic market.
Talking to newsmen, he said a decision has already been taken to import 100 thousand (one lakh) tonnes of rice from Thailand.
Import of another 75,000 tonnes from that country is under active consideration, he added.
"We are considering rice import from other countries like Thailand, Myanmar and Pakistan. We are also examining the quantum to meet the domestic demand," Chowdhury said when asked if the government will buy rice from India at the enhanced price.
India on December 27 raised the minimum export price of rice to 500 dollars per tonne, for the third time in less than a year, from 315 dollars per tonne in February last.
In November, India withdrew ban on rice export to Bangladesh in view of the difficulties caused by the devastating cyclone. But later the country imposed a number of conditions and finally raised the minimum price to 500 dollars on December 27.
Tapan Chowdhury said the government has taken a move to change the rice import policy to facilitate import from other countries.
He said India had promised to export 500 thousand tonnes to Bangladesh. "We hope they will sell to us at the earlier price," he added.
He said traders favour import from India because of low carrying cost. But they will now look for alternative sources.
However, another report from Benapole adds: Trucks unloaded hundreds of tonnes of rice at the Benapole landport Tuesday as the Indian customs authority yielded to the pressure of exporters for allowing delivery of consignments, for which L/Cs (Letters of Credit) were opened at 425 dollars per tonne.
About 7,580 tonnes of rice were delivered at the Benapole landport during the whole day Tuesday.
The Indian customs authority at Petrapole had obstructed rice export since Sunday saying that export at less than 500 dollars per tonne is forbidden by the government. Exporters argued that the enhanced price was effective from December 27.
L/Cs opened before December 27 at the minimum export price fixed by the government should be honoured. The customs authority finally yielded.
Benapole customs officials said a record quantity of rice was imported Tuesday through this landport. Another 10 to 12 thousand tonnes waiting in the queue at Petrapole are likely to be delivered in next couple of days.
According to the importers, another 60 to 70 thousand tonnes will come, for which L/Cs opened before the Indian government raised the minimum export. They said they would wait and see before buying Indian rice at the enhanced price of 500 dollars and above per tonne.
Traders expressed hope that the bulk delivery of Indian rice might leave a soothing impact on the domestic market.