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Rice export down by 23pc
KARACHI- Country's rice export has declined by 23 per cent or
$52.86 million to $233.24 million during the first eight
months of the current fiscal year 2001-2002.
According to export statistics, Pakistan's rice exports stood
at $288.11 million during July-February 2000-2001. During
July-February 2001-2002, rice export dropped by 26.48 per cent
or 310,189 tonnes to 887,072 tonnes in volume against 1.197
million tonnes during the same period last year.
President Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Rahim
Janoo told APP here on Friday that country's rice exports have
declined due to shortage of Irri-6 and basmati in the local
market and appreciation of Pak rupee. He said that
appreciation in Pakistani currency has caused a loss of at
least three to four rupees a dollar to the exporters, making
them uncompetitive with their rivals.
He demanded that the government extend compensation to the
exporters on account of rupee appreciation against dollar.
Janoo said that local production of rice has dropped by 28.34
per cent to about 3.74 million tonnes this year compared to
about 4.8 million tonnes last year. He said Pakistani
exporters are no more competitive in the international market,
specially with neighbouring India which has slashed its prices
by a big margin.
He said Indian government was providing a huge subsidy to its
rice exporters and added that in the Sri Lankan tender for
25,000 tonnes of Irri-6, India quoted a price which was lower
than Pakistan's by 2 to 3 dollars a tonne.
courtesy Daily The News, 2
March, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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