New Delhi, Oct 25: Lifting curbs on rice exports, the government on Wednesday removed the floor price for non-basmati rice shipments and exempted parboiled and husked (brown) rice from export duty.
The government has removed the minimum export price (MEP) of USD 490 per tonne on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice and has exempted parboiled rice and husked (brown) rice from export duty.
On September 28, the government withdrew a blanket ban on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice and imposed the floor price.
“The requirement of MEP for the export of non-basmati white rice…has been lifted with immediate effect,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
The government has also exempted parboiled rice and husked (brown) rice from export duty.
Export duty has been reduced from 10 per cent to ‘nil’ on parboiled rice, husked (brown) rice and rice in the husk (paddy or rough), said a late-night notification issued by the finance ministry on Tuesday.
The duty cuts are effective from October 22.
The government had imposed a ban on exports of non-basmati rice exports on July 20, 2023.
These measures came at a time when the country has ample stock of rice at government godowns and retail prices are also under control.
Earlier, the government scrapped the minimum export price for basmati rice to boost outbound shipments and enhance farmers’ income.