Maize exports bring cheer to shipping trade

Kakinada: While the raw rice exports are dwindling owing to the existing stocks getting exhausted, the exports of para-boiled rice and maize have just commenced bringing some solace to the shipping trade here.
Maize to the extent of two lakh tonnes was exported through the anchorage port last year and the shipping trade hopes of surpassing it this year by another 25,000 tonnes. Already 5,000 tonnes of maize has been exported and shipments of another 20,000 tonnes are in the pipeline. The vessel ‘Lotus Fortune’ is now berthed at the anchorage and the loading of maize commenced on Thursday. The maize of the last season’s crop to the tune of 30,000 tonnes is now getting exported and the exports are expected to gain momentum during November when the new crop enters the market.
Shipping agents are now looking forward for the para-boiled rice exports with the exporters getting ample orders from buyers, especially from Nigeria. Nearly 1.5 lakh tonnes of para-boiled rice is expected to be exported from the anchorage from October-end, immediately after the raw rice stocks are exhausted.
The paddy kharif crop starts coming to market only in November and till then the shipping trade has to depend on the para-boiled rice exports.

Source: The Hindu. Republication