India yesterday slapped a 20 per cent export duty on a number of rice grades to discourage the shipment of the grain to tame prices in the domestic market, a move that may have repercussions in importing nations such as Bangladesh.
In addition to a complete ban on exporting broken rice, a 20% export duty has been levied on a number of rice varieties. However, parboiled and basmati rice are exempt from the duty.
India is also the world’s biggest rice exporter and its rice exports have touched 21.5 million tonnes in 2021, more than the combined shipments of the world's next four biggest rice exporters - Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and the United States.