6.5m tons is Pakistan’s annual rice
production, out of which 4.5
million tons are exported. PHOTO: APP
KARACHI: Pakistan has secured a quota of 50,000 tons of rice imports in the Philippines for the year 2015, according to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP).
A high-profile trade delegation visited the Philippines earlier in April 2015 and met its government departments with the support of the ambassador of Pakistan.
The National Food Authority (NFA) - Philippines’ authorised state body - has invited the private sector to participate in the import of an aggregate volume of 805,200 tons of rice under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for this year.
The Country Specific Quota (CSQ) is broken down as follows: Thailand and Vietnam got the largest share of 293,100 tons each. China got 50,000 tons, India 50,000 tons, Pakistan 50,000 tons, Australia 15,000 tons and El Salvador 4,000 tons.
Read: Unable to compete, rice exporters demand incentives
The total import volume comprises 755,200 tons of country-specific quota (CSQ) and 50,000 tons of omnibus origin volume.
All rice imported under the 2015 MAV rice importation programme will be levied with a tariff of 35% to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of the Philippines, with the Bureau of Customs making the final assessment and valuation.
The importers are allowed to import well-milled rice with quality not lower than 25% broken or other special rice varieties.
The NFA will accept applications under the 2015 MAV, 15 days from publication of the notice.
The interested parties should submit documents to the Grains Marketing Operations Department at the NFA central office and pay a non-refundable processing fee of 50,000 Pesos.
Read: Rice exports: US a potential market, says REAP chairman
The corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorship, farmers’ cooperatives and joint ventures can apply under the programme. The importers should be able to deliver the imported rice on or before November 30, 2015.
Pakistan, one of the top five rice exporters, has a 15% share in the international market but it is struggling in even sustaining its $2 billion rice exports. Its annual rice production is close to 6.5 million tons out of which approximately 4.5 million tons is exported - equivalent to 70% of total domestic production.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2015.
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