India extends 20% export duty on parboiled rice till March

The central government has prolonged the 20% export tariff on parboiled rice until March 31, 2024, according to an official announcement. Parboiled rice is rice that has been partially boiled with its husk. The duty was initially implemented on August 25, 2023, and was scheduled to remain in effect until October 16, 2023, with the goal of maintaining enough domestic availability and controlling its price.

India revised its rice export regulations in July, putting non-basmati white rice in the “prohibited” category. Non-basmati white rice export policy (semi-milled or totally milled rice, whether polished or glazed: Other) was changed from “free” to “prohibited.”

However, it has kept open the option, where exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their government.

West African country Benin is one of the major importers of non-basmati rice from India. Other destination countries are Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Cote D’ Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Vietnam, Djibouti, Madagascar, Cameroon Somalia, Malaysia, Liberia, and UAE.
In late August, India also introduced additional safeguards on exports of basmati rice so as to prevent exports of non-basmati white rice, which was already under the prohibited category since July.