A total of 77,932 tons of rice worth 26.13 trillion rials ($91.69 million) were imported to Iran in the first month of the current fiscal year (March 21-April 20), registering a 52% and 66% fall in terms of weight and value respectively compared with the same month of last year, according to the latest statistics released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
In rial terms, the imports saw a 131% year-on-year rise, ISNA reported.
India with 41,000 tons was the biggest rice exporter to Iran during the period followed by Pakistan with 30,000 tons and the UAE with 2,000 tons.
The average price of each kilogram of imported rice stood at 335,380 rials equal to $1.18, registering a 380% rise in rial terms and a 29.17% fall in dollar terms compared with the same month of last year.
The UAE sold each kilogram of rice to Iran for $1.27 or 363,170 rials.
The Indian rice was priced at $1.12 or 320,000 rials and Pakistani rice at $1.22 or 348,000 rials per kilogram.
A total of 1.77 million tons of rice worth $2.13 billion were imported to Iran from five countries in the fiscal 2022-23, registering a 101% and a 194% rise in terms of weight and value respectively compared with the year before, according to IRICA.
The imports stood at 885,000 tons worth $726 million in the fiscal 2021-22.
The UAE, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and India were the top five exporters of rice to Iran during the year that ended on March 20, 2023.
India exported 885,000 tons worth $1.16 billion to top the list of rice exporters to Iran during the period and accounted for 54.34% of Iran’s total rice imports, IRIB News reported.
It was followed by Pakistan, accounting for 33.78% of total imports with 628,000 tons worth $721 million.
The UAE, Thailand and Turkey came next, respectively.
According to Masih Keshavarz, secretary of Iran’s Rice Suppliers Commission, the seasonal ban on rice imports was not implemented in the last Iranian year.
The ban seeks to shore up domestic production during the harvest season.
Iran is also a producer of top quality rice, although it needs to import huge volumes to meet domestic demand as the grain is a staple food for Iranian households.
The three northern provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan are the main rice producing regions in Iran.
