Rice export ban may be lifted on surplus

India, the world’s second-biggest producer of rice, may scrap a ban on overseas shipments after a record harvest increased stockpiles, a government official said.

The government will assess reserves, purchases from farmers and supplies in the country before ending the curb next month, said the official, who didn’t want to be identified because the information isn’t public.

Global rice prices have slumped by half from a record in 2008, as supplies rose and the global recession punctured the commodities boom.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, which returned to power in the general elections, imposed the ban after political parties protested against rising food costs.

“It’s the right time to allow exports as we have a surplus, otherwise food will become feed if it stays in warehouses,” said Vijay Setia, former president of the All-India Rice Exporters’ Association.

Prices climbed to a record $25.07 per 100 pounds in April 2008 after growers, including Vietnam and Egypt, halted shipments to secure supplies. The July delivery futures were little changed at $11.945 on the Chicago Board of Trade in after-hours trading.

Food Corporation of India, the biggest buyer of grain, has bought record 28.6 million tonnes of rice from farmers, this marketing season, after the government raised the floor price and opened 28,000 centres to collect food grain, said the official. The state-owned agency purchased 28.49 million tonnes last year.

Welfare programmes
Exports of non-basmati rice were banned to rein in prices after demand from government welfare programs doubled in five years.

The government has, since September, eased the curb to allow shipments and supplies of the premium quality grain to African nations, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Shipments were 5.63 million tonnes in 10 months ended January 2008 and fell to 1.53 million tonnes in the 11-month period ended February this year, data from the food ministry showed.

Production may total 99.37 million tonnes in the year ending June, up from 96.69 million tonnes a year earlier, the agriculture ministry said on May 12. Wheat production may be 77.63 million tonnes, compared with 78.6 million tonnes a year ago.

The government may also fully lift the ban on wheat exports by ending a limit to allow shipments of up to 2 million tonnes, the government official said. Shipments were halted three years ago to bolster domestic supplies.

Wheat purchases from farmers rose to 22.85 million tonnes as of Tuesday, since procurement began on April 1, surpassing last year’s record of 22.69 million tonnes.