Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 22
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
From the beginning of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), 950,000 tons of rice have been imported to Iran, and this is a 5 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, secretary of the Iran Rice Importers Association Masih Keshavarz said in an interview with the Young Reporters Club (YRC).
He said that 1.09 million tons of rice were imported during the same period last year.
He noted that the Iranian government imported 200,000 tons of rice to ensure strategic reserves.
The Iranian Ministry of Agriculture Jihad expects the rice imports not to exceed 1 million tons because of local rice production, he added.
“The price of Iranian rice per kg increased by 30,000 rials (about $ 0.71),” he said. “The price of Iranian rice is about 140,000 rials (about $3.33) per kg in the north of the country (where rice is grown).”
He noted that 480 tons of rice imports are required by the end of the year.
He added that in Iran, 1 kg of rice imported from India costs 70,000 rials (about $1.6) and 1 kg of rice imported from Pakistan costs 72,000 rials (about $1.71).