AVERAGE EXPORT PRICE

Data on exact export price of rice is not readily available in this Directorate. However, the average export price per quintal of rice has been worked out year wise for the basmati and non- basmati rice separately. For the purpose of calculation, total quantity of rice exported and its value realized in rupees have been taken separately for basmati and non-basmati rice and then the value of export divided by the quantity of rice exported to arrive at the average export price of rice per quintal year wise for basmati & non-basmati. Average export price thus worked out has been discussed in this chapter. Average export price of basmati and non-basmati rice during 1992-93 to 2001-02 are given in Table-7.

It is seen from the average export price data given in Table-7 that the export price of Basmati Rice has fluctuated significantly year after year. During 1992-93, average export price of basmati rice was Rs. 2,465 per quintal, which declined continuously year after year up to 1996-97 as compared to 1992-93. Average export price for basmati rice has been worked out to Rs. 2,013 per quintal during 1993-94 and the same has decreased to Rs. 1,957 per quintal during 1994-95. Average export price again increased to Rs. 2,297 per quintal during 1995-96 over previous year price and increasing trend in average export price continued up to 1998-99.

During 1996-97, average export price has been worked out to Rs. 2,385 per quintal, which increased to Rs. 2,841 and Rs. 3,140 per quintal during 1997-98 and 1998-99 respectively. However, average export price of Basmati rice declined during the following three years as compared to 1998-99 average export price. During 1999-2000, average export price was worked to Rs. 2,789 per quintal, which came down to Rs. 2,543 per quintal during 2000-01 and it again went up to Rs. 2,762 per quintal during 2001-02.

The reason for fluctuation in average export price of Basmati rice is attributed to different quality and quantity of rice exported to different countries during different years. A particular country may import one year a particular quality/grade of rice and the same country may import another quality/grade of rice during next or subsequent years. Thus, different quality and quantity of rice exported to different countries at different export price rate may probably be the reason for fluctuation of average export price of Basmati rice.

Average export price data given in Table-7 reveals that in case of Non-Basmati Rice, almost same trend of fluctuation in average export price is seen as in case of Basmati Rice. During 1992-93, average export price was worked out to Rs. 684 per quintal for Non-Basmati Rice, which declined to Rs. 399 per quintal during 1993-94. However, average export price increased to Rs. 759 per quintal during 1994-95 over previous year and increasing trend in average export price continued up to 2000-01 as compared to 1994-95.

Average export price was worked to Rs. 819 per quintal during 1995-96, which increased to Rs. 968 per quintal during 1996-97 and slightly decreased to Rs. 939 per quintal during 1997-98 over previous year. During 1998-99, average export price increased to Rs. 1,009 per quintal over previous year and continued to increase in linear order to Rs. 1,070 per quintal and Rs. 1,139 per quintal during subsequent two years of 1999-2000 and 2000-01. There was a sharp declined in average export price to Rs. 864 per quintal during 2001-02 over previous five years.

The reason for fluctuation in average export price of non- basmati rice could be the same as discussed above in the case of Basmati Rice.