Pakistan loses Iran rice mkt, India gains ground
Monday, 3 December 2007
NEW DELHI, Dec 2 (Commodity Online): India has made big strides in rice exports to Iran and this has caused major worries for the Pakistani exporters.
The main reason for India's gain is Iran's decision to impose heavy tariffs on imports from Pakistan through land route.
Moreover Pakistani exporters feel that their government is doing precious little to solve the problem.
All put together, India has emerged as the preferred exporter of the commodity to Iran.
Pakistani exporters of the cash crop are blaming Islamabad's lack of coordination, weak foreign policy and apathy of their apex body, the Rice Exporters' Association of Pakistan, for the predicament.
Three years back, India was exporting just 60,000 tonnes to Iran. But in 2006-07, rice exports from India to Iran jumped to around 225,000 tonnes.
The Pakistani exporters are more worried because in recent months there has also been a drastic drop of exports to Europe, Russia, Middle East and Saudi Arabia. India has been the major gainer from this.
Pakistani rice exporters want their government to take up the matter with Tehran, which has imposed heavy tariffs on commodities exported from Pakistan through land routes.
India exports rice to Tehran through sea route. For 2007-08, India has already secured contracts for shipping around 150,000 tonnes.
Indian exporters are selling Pusa-1121 variety, a non-basmati long grain aromatic rice, to Iran.
The main reason for India's gain is Iran's decision to impose heavy tariffs on imports from Pakistan through land route.
Moreover Pakistani exporters feel that their government is doing precious little to solve the problem.
All put together, India has emerged as the preferred exporter of the commodity to Iran.
Pakistani exporters of the cash crop are blaming Islamabad's lack of coordination, weak foreign policy and apathy of their apex body, the Rice Exporters' Association of Pakistan, for the predicament.
Three years back, India was exporting just 60,000 tonnes to Iran. But in 2006-07, rice exports from India to Iran jumped to around 225,000 tonnes.
The Pakistani exporters are more worried because in recent months there has also been a drastic drop of exports to Europe, Russia, Middle East and Saudi Arabia. India has been the major gainer from this.
Pakistani rice exporters want their government to take up the matter with Tehran, which has imposed heavy tariffs on commodities exported from Pakistan through land routes.
India exports rice to Tehran through sea route. For 2007-08, India has already secured contracts for shipping around 150,000 tonnes.
Indian exporters are selling Pusa-1121 variety, a non-basmati long grain aromatic rice, to Iran.