Detention of an oil tanker from India, carrying crude from Iraq, by Iran has led to concern among rice exporters here, as they fear it could be a setback to basmati export from the country. Iran is the biggest importer of basmati rice, especially long-grained Pusa 1121 variety, from India. In 2012-13, Iran accounted for about 10.82 lakh tonnes of basmati rice export, out of total 34.56 lakh tonnes, from India.
"Iran is a major importer of Pusa 1121 rice from India, therefore strained relations are bound to reflect on the trade," observed Kulwinder Singh Makhni, director, Punjab Basmati Rice Limited while talking to TOI on Tuesday.
Makhni said Punjab, especially Amritsar district, contributes maximum to the export of Pusa 1121 rice to Iran. "More than four-five lakh tonnes of Pusa 1121 rice is exported from Amritsar, out of nearly 10 lakh tonnes sent to Iran from Punjab," he said.
According to reports, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had detained oil tanker MT Desh Shanti in the Persian Gulf on August 12 and taken it to Bandar Abbas port. The tanker was carrying crude oil from Basra in Iraq.
A rice broker who had recently visited Iran on a business tour, Daniel Masih said the recent developments have left the exporters a worried lot. "They expect the Indian government to resolve the issue immediately. After all, Iran is a major consumer market for Pusa 1121 basmati from Punjab," he said.
Allaying the fears of basmati rice trade being hit because of the detention of tanker, Rajiv Setia, executive director of Chaman Lal Setia Exports, claimed it is an isolated incident and not much should be construed from it.
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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