India to export 1 million tonne of white rice to Indonesia

National Cooperative Exports Limited will source white rice from the open market through open bids from co-operative societies

NEW DELHI: India will export 1 million tonne of non-basmati white rice to Indonesia annually for four years, as inventories in the world’s biggest exporter of the grain surged following a series of earlier restrictions on overseas shipments and a robust harvest, an official said.

Labourers weigh rice crops in a grain market in Karnal in the northern state of Haryana on October 15 (REUTERS)

Harvesting typically starts in March in Indonesia and rice is a staple for its 280 million population. Indonesia’s output is estimated to fall 2.43% this year to 30.34 million tonnes due to a longer spell of dry weather in 2023, necessitating imports.

The Amit Shah-led Union ministry of cooperation entered into a deal with Indonesia’s ministry of trade to ship supplies through the National Cooperative Exports Limited, a national enterprise set up last year by the Centre, the official cited above said.

The Indian cooperative will source white rice from the open market through open bids from co-operative societies, the official added. India had removed a floor price for the export of white rice in October last year to boost exports after lifting a ban on exports due to higher output.

The country had produced 137.82 million tonnes in 2023-24 despite poor rains and last year’s summer-sown or kharif output was 119.93 million tonnes, according to official data.