By: Elisa Donegatti and Ester Venturelli
India is the second world producer of Rice, following China, with 132 Mio Ton in the 2023-24 season, according to USDA estimates. With a self-sufficiency of 112%, it is the first world Rice exporter with more than 20 Mio Ton in the 2022-23 season, about a 37% share of global Rice export.
In 2023, the Indian monsoon season has been characterised by little rain that damaged the main harvest of the country and, over the last months, the lack of humidity had a negative impact on the second harvest as well. Consequently, the Rice availability in the country is limited.
For that reason, last July the government forbade the export of white non basmati Rice, in an attempt to stop food price inflation, that last December was +10% compared to a year before. Moreover, a tax of 20% on the parboiled Rice export. Now, the government is considering the extension of that tax beyond the 31st of March, which is the current expiration date.
These tensions could have a bullish effect on the Rice markets, that are already recording prices at high levels in the Asian markets as well as the African and Middle Eastern markets