NEW DELHI, May 11 (Reuters) - India has extended a deadline for exporting 55,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice to four African countries by three months, the government said.
The government had authorised State Trading Corp of India (STCI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) in January to export the rise to Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Cameroon by the end of April. But the state-run agency could only export 15,000 tonnes to Ghana at about $500 per tonne.
State Trading Corp can export the remainder by July 30, the government said in a statement.
"The extension was made on the request of STC as there were no fresh deals recently," said a commerce ministry official, who did not want to be identified.
Last week, the government had allowed state firms to export a further 1 million tonnes of non-basmati rice exports to 21 African nations. [ID:nDEL321629]
India had banned rice exports early last year to stave off shortages at home, but partially eased the curbs as output and government stocks grew.
India is expected to produce 98.89 million tonnes of rice in the crop year to June, up 2.3 percent from the previous year, the farm ministry said in its production forecast in February.
Global rice prices have eased since early this year on improved global output prospects.
On May 1, India's rice stock rose 66 percent on year to 21.4 million tonnes.
Source : REUTERS INDIA