Centre exempts non-basmati white rice from export duty

The government has reduced the levy on parboiled rice to 10 per cent

Withdrawing a blanket ban on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice, the government on Saturday imposed a floor price of $490 per tonne and exempted the commodity from export duty.

Exports of non-basmati white rice have been banned since July 20, 2023 to boost domestic supply.

“The export policy for non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or gazed) …is amended from prohibited to free, subject to MEP (minimum export price) of $490 per tonne with immediate effect and until further orders,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

The measures came at a time when the country has ample stock of rice at government godowns and retail prices are also under control.

The government has exempted non-basmati white rice from export duty, while reducing the levy on parboiled rice to 10 per cent.

The duty cut came within a fortnight of the government’s decision to remove the minimum export price on basmati rice.