Agri
export zones to boost basmati sector
The Punjab State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation (Markfed)
plans to infuse a new vitality in Punjab's basmati sector through agri
export zones, to be set up in the state in collaboration with Agriculture
Produce and Processed Food Exports Development Authority (Apeda). A
MoU to this effect was signed by Markfed managing director SS Channy
and Apeda Secretary-General DB Sabharwal.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 19)
Govt.
hikes ex-FCI prices of grain for export by Rs 250-600 per tonne
The
government on Friday hiked ex-FCI export prices of food grains by Rs
250-600 per tonne. Official sources said except for the price of new
crop of rice harvested last month, which will be effective from Saturday,
the rest of the rates would be applicable from January next year. This
will make Indian wheat and rice costlier by $5-12 a tonne in the international
market, they said. Price of last year's lustre loss wheat affected by
rains has been left unchanged at Rs 3,960 per tonne.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 16 '02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Grain
off take from central pool doubles in first half on higher exports
Offtake of rice and wheat from the central pool during the first half
of the current fiscal has nearly doubled over the same period last year
on account of increased exports of the commodities. The offtake of these
foodgrains during April period stood at 223.43 lakh tonnes against 114.4
lakh tonnes during the corresponding period of the last fiscal, an official
release said. The 95.3% increase in offtake has been achieved mainly
on account of increased exports of the two commodities.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 28 '02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Farm
exports treble in 7 years to Rs 10,000 cr.
India’s agricultural exports have registered a three-fold increase
in seven years to a record Rs 10,000 crore in ‘01-02, even though
substantial headway will have to be made to correspondingly augment
income of the farmers. Furthermore, India’s share in the world
agro-trade remains minuscule and efforts should be made to achieve at
least 5% share in the sector’s global exports. Stating this in
a function organized by APEDA minister of state for commerce RP Rudy
said while exports have increased from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 10,169.4
crore in seven years “farmers still have to be made the ultimate
commercial beneficiary of the sale, as it is his produce that is traded”.
Agro exports will be sustainable and competitive in the global scenario
only if adequate return to the farmers is assured.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 26 '02 (Website : www.economictimes.com
)
Wheat
export plan
Punjab State Co-operative Supply Marketing Federation (Markfed) plans
to capitalize on a global supply squeeze to expand its markets in the
Middle East, S S Channi, Markfed’s MD, said. He said the company
was approaching buyers in Iran and Iraq, two of the region’s biggest
importers, with offers to supply wheat as per their quality specifications.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 27 '02 (Website : www.economictimes.com
)
Coir
exports to set new record
Coir exports during the current fiscal ending March ’03 are expected
to touch an all-time high, even surpassing the export target of Rs 408
crore, Coir Board sources said. During April-September this year, export
of coir touched 40,848 tonnes, valued at Rs 179.27 crore, recording
an increase of 21% in terms of quantity and 18% in value terms as compared
to the exports in the previous fiscal. If the trend continued, export
of coir during the current year would exceed Rs 450 crore, sources said,
adding that would be about Rs 129 crore more than the previous year.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 26 '02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Sugar
exports may touch 15 lakh tonnes
The current slump in domestic sugar prices could prove to be a blessing
in disguise as they may spur exports of the commodity which may touch
15 lakh tonne this season(October-September), traders said here. If
domestic prices continue to fall, local mills may soon offer their produce
for export at $195 per tonne free-on-board (FOB) against $213 at present.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 14 '02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Indonesia
to buy Indian wheat
A local firm has got an order to export 30,000 tonne wheat to Indonesia
through a Japanese firm and the delivery is scheduled for early next
year.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 13,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
High
soyabean prices may hit meal exports
Soyameal exports have taken a beating owing to a smaller crop this year
and rise in domestic demand and prices. Exports are pegged to decline
by a significant 28% this fiscal to 18 lakh tonnes from 25.09 lakh tonnes
last year, traders said. Exports so far have fallen to 3.2 lakh tonne
in April-October this year from 5.3 lakh tonne in the year earlier period.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, November 12,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Farmers
in a bind as rice exporters join hands to beat down prices
Country’s top basmati exporters have decided this year to operate
as a cartel and stagger procurement so that they can beat down mandi
prices. Exporters have also decided to officially adopt Rs 10 a kg as
a bench mark while buying Pusa basmati from farmers.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 22,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Centre
clears N-E agri-export aid plan
The centre has cleared a scheme of inland transport reimbursement for
horticulture produce exports from the north-eastern region, including
Sikkim. The scheme would apply to transportation by road, rail or for
of export shipment of all fresh and processed items and certified organic
products from the north-east, official sources said. The scheme, meant
for exports during the current fiscal, may be extended depending on
the exporters’ response. The rate of assistance for road transport
is Re 1 per kg from NE states to Guwahati for export by air. It will
be Rs 2 per kg if transported by these states to Calcutta by rail. In
case of products transported by air, the assistance will be 75% of the
airfreight from an airport in NE states and Bagdogra airport to Guwahati
or Calcutta. The processed items include ones prepared from guava, lemon,
citrus, oranges, pears, pineapple, jaggery and pepper.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 19,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
No
move to cut import duty on palm oil
There is no immediate proposal to reduce import duty on palm oil, a
top official told. “How can we bring down the duty at a time when
Indian farmers are preparing to market their kharif oilseeds production?”
he asked. Even at the present rate of duty, palm oil imports constitute
a large chunk of total edible oil imports, so there is no immediate
need for any review of duty structure, he argued.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 17,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Edible
oil imports up 52% in Sept on lower output fears
Edible oil import have show a massive 52 % increase in September this
year at 6.1 lakh tonnes against 3.9 lakh tonnes in the same month last
year, says Solvent Extractors Association. Importers said this is primarily
due to the likely fall in kharif oilseeds output which the government
has tentatively pegged at 117 lakh tonnes against 133 lakh tonnes in
the ’01 kharif season and the higher demand during the ongoing
festival period.
However, due to sluggish imports during the first half of the season,
the overall imports at 40.3 lakh tonnes are 11% lower than 45.5 lakh
tonnes in the corresponding period last year. The imports in September
are the highest in any month this oil year (November-October) and have
crossed the five-lakh tonne mark for the first time.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 16,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Cashew
is second among farm exports
Export of cashew kernels, cashewnut shell liquid and allied products
had earned the country foreign exchange of Rs 1,781.6 crore during ‘01-02,
chairman of the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India, K Krishna
Pillai has said. Among agricultural commodities exported from India,
cashew held the second position contributing 0.9% of the total export
earnings of the country during ‘01-02. United States continued
to be the major buyer of cashew kernels during the last year, importing
48,161m tonnes valued at Rs 884 crore, comprising 49.4% of our total
exports in quantity and 49.8% in value terms.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 14,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Oilmeal
exports fall 7% in April- September
India's oilmeal exports have recorded a 7% decline to 547,346 tonnes
in April-September, 02, down from 586,111 tonnes in the same period
last year. The fall in soyameal export led to the decline in oilmeal
exports in total.
Oilmeal, saw a sharper cut in their exports during June-July when the
meal supply was very tight fearing a severe damage in kharif oilseeds
crops. Due to uncertainty in the domestic oilmeal market, their exports
fell 25-27% in those months. However, the rate of decline had been contained
a bit since August when the kharif oilseeds crops outlook appeared not
so bleak as what had been perceived in the early part of the season.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 11,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Govt.
unveils norms for edible oil imports
The Centre has laid down the procedure for import of three lakh tonnes
edible oils at concessional rate of duties, but traders say “the
inordinate delay” in doing so is likely to result in lapsing of
the major part of the tariff rate quota notified by finance ministry
on March 1, ‘02. Imports have to be completed before March 31,
’03.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 8,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Rice
exports pegged at 5.5m tonnes
Rice exports are unlikely to be hit though the Centre has halted providing
additional rice for processing. Rice exports are pegged at 5.5m tonnes
this year, but the trade will shift to 25% brokens from 5% while sales
of parboiled exports will be affected. Of the estimated exports of 5.5m
tonnes, as much as four million tonnes will be raw rice which is mostly
25% brokens and around 1-1.5m tonnes will be of parboiled rice.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 7,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Exporters
opt for certified raw materials
The all India Seafood Exporters Association of India has decided to
streamline the purchase of raw material in order to eliminate the risk
of the presence of antibiotics. Following the restrictions imposed by
EIA on 5 top seafood units from producing and exporting the association
has decided to purchase the raw materials only if it is accompanied
by an antibiotic free certificate.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 7,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Sugar
export dip
India's sugar exports fell drastically by more than two-thirds in August
to a mere 60,000 tonnes compared to 1.9 lakh tonnes in the same month
last season owing, among other factors, to unremunerative international
prices. The cumulative exports in the first eleven months of the season
(October-August) are also lower by 30.6% at 7.8 lakh tonnes against
11.2 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year. According to
an industry release, output during the period has gone up marginally
to 184.2 lakh tonnes as against 183.9 lakh tonnes last year.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, October 5,'02
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
West Bengal goes on Agri-export blitz
The West Bengal government will set up three Agri-export zones in the
state, state minister for food processing Sailen Sarkar said. The three
agri-export zones to be formed would be for pineapple, litchi and potato.
He said that the state government intends to set up another two, for
mango and vegetables, for which approval was pending. The minister said
that the state government would invite investments from the private
sector for setting up agri-export zones.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 28,
(Website : www.economictimes.com )
Government
asks exporters to identify new markets for sugar
The government has asked the sugar industry to brace up for greater
competition and explore new markets for its produce even as it assured
the industry of a buffer stock soon to shore up the bottomline. The
minister said on its part government will do everything possible to
assist millers but upgradation of technology is their responsibility
at the end of the day. To be more viable economically, mills should
go for ethanol manufacture from molasses and co-generation of power
from bagasse.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 23, www.economictimes.com)
Indonesia
to buy 10,000/t of Indian sugar
Millers are now bypassing trading firms to directly sell sugar abroad
and one such mill belonging to the Rs 700 crore Warana group will be
exporting 10,000 tonnes to Indonesia next month thus avoiding high carrying
costs of the commodity. “We will be exporting 10,000 tonnes sugar
to Indonesia at $210 free-on-board from Mumbai port for October delivery
taking our total exports this season to 42,500 tonnes”, Vasantrao
S Chavan, MD of the Tatyasaheb Kore Warana Co-operative Sugar Mill,
said.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 19)
Wheat
exports hit
Exporters are unable to tap new markets for wheat or increase volumes
for exports in a big way as it is being outpriced by much cheaper produce
from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. “A MNC firm has got an order
to export 50,000 tonnes feed wheat to South Korea at $94 a tonne C &
F, price being low, the company will source it from Kazakhstan rather
than India”, market sources said.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 17)
India's
rice exports may drop
India is likely to lose its recently gained share in the global rice
market next year due to smaller crop and lower stocks but will continue
to be a major exporter gaining at Pakistan's cost. The country's exports
are pegged at 40 lakh tonnes in calender year ’03 down from an
estimated 55 lakh tonne this year, according to the latest USDA forecast.
The USDA projects that Thailand and Vietnam will bounce back next year
though Pakistan will continue to lag from a lack of exportable supplies.
USDA has kept the expected exports from India next year at the last
month's forecast of 440 lakh tonnes but upscaled this year’s figure
to 55 lakh tonnes from 45 lakh tonnes.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 16)
Aug
edible oil imports dip 31%
Edible oil imports of the country declined 31% in August to 4.52 lakh
tonnes from 6.54 lakh tonnes despite an anticipated shortfall in kharif
oilseeds crop this year. Total import of vegetable oils this season
(November-August) is also lower by 17% at 34.24 lakh tonnes against
41.48 lakh tonnes in the same period last year.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 14)
Spices
board object to chilli export zone plan
The proposed Agri Export Zone (AEZ) for chillies in Guntur, proposed
by the government of Andhra Pradesh, seems to have hit a roadblock in
the form of objections raised by the Spices Board. The Spices Board
is learnt to have questioned the wisdom of having a separate AEZ for
chillies, when it is also involved in the same business of promoting
chillies production and exports across the country. The board is an
apex body under the ministry of commerce created with the objective
of developing, regulating and promoting a number of spices produced
in the country, including chillies grown in Andhra Pradesh.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 14)
Cut-flower
exports likely to hit $20m this season
Exports in cut flowers are likely to rise to $20m this season with a
marketing centre set up in Amsterdam acting as a major facilitator to
give a boost to the trade. In view of the benefits accruing, it has
now been decided to continue with the centre and build upon the gains
made during the previous season. An amount of Rs 35.9 lakh has been
sanctioned by the government for the purpose. This season's estimates
cut flower exports are pegged at $20m and targeted to double by ‘05-06
with Amsterdam-based marketing to help increase the volumes and unit
price realization, Anil Swarup, chairman, APEDA, said.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September 5)
First
basmati export zone in Punjab
The country will have its first agri export zone for basmati rice in
Punjab targeting an export of around Rs 2,340 crore in five years from
an investment of Rs 23.3 crore. The Punjab basmati export zones one
of the four such zones which have received Centre's nod, including one
for apples in Himachal Pradesh, mangoes (AP) and flowers (Tamil Nadu),
Apeda chairman said.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September, 2)
India
set to make big gains in rice exports
India has been projected to make big gains in rice exports in ’02
which is expected to rise sharply to 4.2 m tonnes as competition for
international rice market share intensifies during the year, according
to a rice market report released by the UN. The report issued by the
Bangkok head-quarters of the food and agriculture organization (FAO)
said export are expected to rise sharply despite a two m tonnes fall
in India's paddy output from the previous years 1136m tonnes. Exports
will increase by 600,000 tonnes to 4.2m tonnes this year which will
be nearly double the ’00 level of 2.2m tonnes.
It said world paddy production in ’02 is now forecast at 595 m
tonnes, up six million tonnes from the previous estimate, but still
one million tonne below the ’01 figure.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times, September, 2)
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