Putting to rest talk of the government planning to ban maize exports, Commerce Secretary G K Pillai on Tuesday said there was no proposal to this effect. | |
| Poultry and starch industries have been demanding a ban on maize exports, as prices of the coarse grain have surged in most spot markets on high export demand, despite a larger crop. |
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| On an average, India exports about 500,000-800,000 tonnes of maize to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. |
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| This year, however, maize exports are seen higher at over 1 million tonnes on a global supply crunch and demand for Indian maize from Southeast Asian countries. |
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| Starch manufacturers and poultry unit owners "" largest consumers of maize in India "" have been asking the government to ban maize exports since last year. |
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| Though the government last year lowered the import duty on maize last year to ensure higher supplies, it has not introduced any curbs on exports, as domestic output is comfortable. |
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| The government estimates year to June maize output at 16.8 million tonnes, up from 15.1 million tonnes last year. |
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