Egypt Not to Be Affected by India’s Rice Export Ban, Division Says

Ragab Shehata, Head of the Rice Division of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce confirmed that Egypt will not be affected by India's decision to ban exporting "non-basmati" rice.

Shehata said in statements Saturday that Egypt is self-sufficient in rice, justifying the government's resort to importing it earlier due to farmers' reluctance to supply in the hope of obtaining a higher price.

He added that as soon as shipments of rice entered Egypt, prices fell and farmers rushed to supply rice.

The head of the Rice Division continued: Egypt is a self-sufficient country in rice, and the price of a ton of rice and barley decreased from 20 thousand to 11 thousand, stressing: I tell the citizen not to buy a kilo of rice for more than 22 pounds.

With regard to the contract of the Ministry of Supply with India to import shipments of rice, Shehata said: A contract has been signed to import 50,000 tons and has already arrived, and there are no other shipments pending with India or any other country belonging to Egypt.

The government of India - the largest exporter of rice in the world - had issued a decision to ban the export of non-basmati white rice "with immediate effect", in a decision that could lead to a rise in international rice prices.