Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran should import 200,000-300,000 tons of rice by the end of the Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), Masih Keshavarz, secretary of the Iran Rice Importers Association, told the Young Journalists Club (YJC), Trend reports.
According to Keshavarz, there was 30,000-ton shortage in rice imports this year when compared to the data from last year, according to the statistical data of Iranian Customs for an 11-month period.
Noting that the 150,000-200,000 tons of imports are unaccounted for, due to belonging to the public sector, Keshavarz said that it is important to import the rice in the said volume to meet the country's needs.
"Considering that there is not much time left till the end of the year, it is hoped that the Central Bank of Iran will grant foreign currency to importers as soon as possible," he said.
Keshavarz went on to say that experts of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of Iran say that 800,000 tons of rice are imported annually for regulating the domestic market.
According to statistics, 1,3 million tons of rice were imported. Due to importers having no rice in their warehouses, the nationally required amount is higher than the said figure.
At present, the cost of Iranian rice in the Iran’s domestic market is about 130,000-200,000 rials (app. $3.09- 4.76), while Indian rice costs 85,000 rials (app. $ 2.02) and Pakistani rice costs 82,000 rials (app. $1.95).