Rice exports jumps to 74.67 lakh tonnes during Apr-Dec 2012

Rice exports were at 74.67 lakh tonnes during April-December 2012 against 71.75 lakh tonnes in the full fiscal year of 2011-12, Parliament was informed today.

"As the export price of Indian rice was more competitive than the Thai rice, India has displaced Thailand from the position of top exporter of rice during 2011-12," Minister of State Commerce and Industry D Purandeswari said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

She said that export performance of both the countries in coming years would depend upon quantum of production of rice in India and Thailand as also the overall global supply scenario and other nuances of internal trade in agricultural commodities.

In 2010-11, the rice exports stood at 24.71 lakh tonnes from 21.56 lakh tonnes in the previous fiscal.

In a separate reply, the minister said that the customs department has detected import of sub-standard cheap products from China.

In 2010-11, the customs department has detected only three cases in which value of goods involved are worth Rs 0.74 crore. In 2009-10, it had detected 49 cases in which value of goods involved are Rs 2.8 crore.

"The government acts in case goods imported from any source are found to violate these regulations and threaten human, animal or plant life or health," the minister said.

In specific cases where customs detect import of sub-standard and hazardous goods, they are empowered to seize the goods and initiate penal action.

"In the recent past, the government has taken steps to prevent/restrict import of toys, milk and milk products (including chocolates and candies/confectioneries/food preparation with milk) from China," she added.