TEHRAN, Iran, June 7
Trend:
Iran has imported around 150,000 tons of rice since the start of the current Iranian year (started March 21,2021) and it seems another 150,000 tons of rice would be imported by late June, said the secretary of Iran Rice Importers Association Masih Keshavarz, Trend reports citing IRNA..
"The country's annual rice need is more than 3 million tons that about 2 million is produced domestically and between 1 to 1.5 million tons being imported," said.
"Iran has imported 850,000 tons of rice last Iranian year (started March 20,2020), which was a 50-percent decline, compare to 2019," he said.
"Considering the low volume of imported rice since the start of the new Iranian year (started March 21,2021) and drop of import in the last Iranian year, there's possibility of imbalance in the market," he said.
"Due to current foreign currency fluctuation, importers can't afford to pay extra costs for storage of rice, while the drought affects the domestic rice harvest. So, it's necessary to act wisely regarding imports," said Keshavarz.
He pointed out that the officials should have a certain strategy for the upcoming months, to prevent possible rice shortage, which may require reducing of rice import ban time.