UAE food importers move quickly to limit impact on India’s non-basmati rice export ban

UAE food importers move quickly to limit impact on India’s non-basmati rice export ban

Dubai: Food traders in the UAE are moving swiftly to source more rice imports from other producer markets and compensate for the ban India has placed on all non-basmati varieties.

So far, the Indian ban has had limited impact on retail rice prices in the UAE, according to market sources.

“India has always been a major supplier of rice to the UAE,” said Dr. Dhananjay Datar, Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai-based Adil Group, one of the biggest importers of Indian food commodities. “There will be an immediate shortage of Indian rice in the local market, leading to supply constraints.

“It could lead to price volatility - the need of the moment for traders and food importers in the UAE is to seek alternate sourcing arrangements.”

The latest ban by India adds to the export restriction the country has had on wheat for two years now. (The bans have been imposed to ensure sufficient supply levels for its domestic consumption.)

Rice is not the only issue on the table that UAE’s consumers, F&B businesses, retailers and traders need to keep close watch on over the coming weeks. Global wheat prices are already coming under pressure as doubts resurface about steady Ukrainian supplies through Black Sea