TEHRAN, Iran, July 17
Trend:
Iran's rice import has reduced 69 percent in the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2021)and the Iran Customs Administration has warned the Ministry of Industries, Mine and Trade to maintain the rice market, said Deputy General Manager at Customs.
The seasonal ban on rice import should be reconsidered due to the rising shortage of possible increases in price in the coming months, said Mehrdad Jamali Arvanaghi, Trend reports citing Fars News Agency.
The official has expressed his concern in a letter to the Ministry of Industries, Mine, and Trade considering the seasonal rice import ban from August to November in the current year and prohibiting permit to release imported rice cargos from customs and ports across the country by July 22.
"Statistics indicate the current imported rice volume in ports and customs in the country is 37.147 tons and only one vessel is unloading 15,110 tons of imported rice in Chabahar port. About 8 to 10 ships are loading rice in other countries that would be transported to Iran," he added.
"Regarding draught in current Iranian year, it seems the decision to prevent import should be reconsidered to avoid rice shortage or increase of rice price in coming months," Arvanaghi noted.
A total of 86,367 tons of imported rice valued at $78 million has been released from the country's customs from March 21 to July 6 that has a 69 percent decline compared to the same time in the last Iranian year (started March 20,2020).