By permitting 14 Indian firms to sell basmati rice, China has opened a new prospect for Indian rice exports.

For selling rice, 14 companies have been allowed but among them due to a quality standard, five companies were not given permission. Under for phytosanitary certification, these five companies were also registered.

Basmati rice was not being imported by the country till now, whereas China is amongst the largest importers of rice. From India, the short grain, low aroma rice is liked by the Chinese. As China told that due to beetles the previous rice shipments were infested and for this rice also rejected. But with this statement, Indian authorities don’t agree with it.

This year in September, for exporting rice, 19 basmati rice companies had registered and China agreed to inspect those. This approval to offer basmati rice will help Indian decrease its trade deficit with China that has been rising from $1.1 billion dollars in 2003-04 to $52.7 billion dollars in 2015-16. From India, Basmati rice contributed to 57% in 2014-15 of the total rice exported from India.

Through Hong Kong to an estimated quantity of 4000-5000 tonnes, the Indian basmati rice was being sold to China. But this clearance shows direct export of rice.

70% of world’s basmati rice is produced by Indians and this is only 6% of total rice growth of the country. Rs. 275.98 billion in 2014-15 from Rs. 28.24 billion in 2004-2005 the Basmati exports of India have increased.

From India, West Asian countries had purchased 75% of the basmati exports in 2014-15.