How rice
importers are evading a yearly $21m tax at Tema port
Source:
graphic.com.gh
A grand scheme comprising some
major rice importers and their assigns are taking advantage of lousy clearance
procedures at the ports
to make away with an average of more than
US$21 million per a year, mainly through under-declaration and
misclassification of products.
Documents seen by Graphic Online indicate
that the importers that control between 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the grain
imported into the country, together with other minor importers, are all
implicated in this canker.In the case of under-declaration or under-invoicing,
the importers are able to cheat the system by declaring a price lower than the
actual price of the rice at source.
For instance, in June last year, for a quantity of 500
kilogramme (kg) bagged fragrant rice bought by one of the importers from
Vietnam at US$572 and valued at US$286,000 in total, the importer
under-declared it at US$440, giving it a total value of US$220,000.This meant
that the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) calculated a
duty of 45.9 per cent on US$220,000 rather than on US$286,000.Thus, instead of
paying a duty of US$131,000, the company shortchanged the country by paying
US$100,980; thereby escaping with US$30,294 in just one consignment of 1kg
bagged fragrant rice.The same situation happened with the 5kg, 4.5kg, 25kg and
50kg bags of rice in various quantities imported by the same company during
June 2017 alone.
This also meant that the company, whose identity has been
withheld, made away with over US$711,000 from this dubious activity.
Thus, should the situation remain like this throughout the year,
it meant that one importer swindled the revenue authorities of more than US$8.5
million last year.
Another corrupt strategy that some of the rice importers are
using is misclassification. Under this practice, importers do not state the
right classification of the rice in order to dodge taxes.
For example, if a company brings in long-grain fragrant rice it
is able to declare at Customs that the product is white rice - which attracts
lower duties than the fragrant rice.The documents seen by Graphic
Online shows that in April and May this year one of the
largest importers brought fragrance rice into the country but declared it as
white rice at the Tema Port.The effect of this is that it gives the company
undue advantage of selling the rice on the local market cheaper than its
competitors paying the right duties, thereby making them uncompetitive.
The
trend shows that the government loses on average US$21million annually from
these under-declaration and misclassification practices.
Graphic Online
is reliably informed that some of the importers who are affected by these
unscrupulous acts have reported the issue to law enforcers especially the GRA,
but action is yet to be taken to resolve them.
Customs aid process
Again, Graphic Online has found out that the companies are able
to carry out this corrupt activity (under-declaration) by taking advantage of
lapses in the clearance process at the ports.
Customs has a benchmark price for some products imported into
the country, of which rice is part. Under the benchmark pricing, per the
documents sighted, all fragrant rice imported into the country is priced at US$440
irrespective of the bag’s size, be it 1kg or 50kg.
Meanwhile, all the various quantities are bought at different
prices at source: meaning different duties should be calculated for each
bag-size.Customs, however, require importers to declare the right prices goods
are bought at source. For example, even though Customs has set a benchmark
price of US$440 for a quantity of 500 1kg fragrant rice, importers are expected
to declare the original price of US$572 they paid in Vietnam.
However, this is not the case, as some of the importers are able
to use their sister-companies in other countries to declare prices below the
original and present invoices to that effect to Ghana Customs.
Customs can address this by simply demanding from importers the
original declaration forms at source, in addition to all other relevant
documents, for calculation of duties.
Effect on local businesses
The situation presented in this story puts the local industry in
danger, as efforts by government to boost their capacity will yield no results
if the big players continue to make away with millions through these corrupt
practices.
The country’s current rice consumption is about 1.8
million tonnes, with local rice production less than 600,000 tonnes. The
Ministry of Agriculture is expecting rice production to hit about 630,000
tonnes by end of the year.
With the big importers cheating the system, the local industry’s
prospects for competing with them remain very dim indeed.
http://www.businessghana.com/site/news/business/169056/-How-rice-importers-are-evading-a-yearly-tax
Duterte to rice cartels: Stop
messing with me
Ralf Rivas
Published 7:00 PM, July 23, 2018
Updated 7:00 PM, July 23, 2018
RICE PRICES. President Rodrigo
Duterte takes on rice cartels anew. Photo by Angie de Silva/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – President
Rodrigo Duterte warned rice hoarders and cartel protectors that the government
will be aggressive in hunting them down."Stop messing with me… consider yourselves
warned," Duterte said during his 3rd State of the Nation Address on
Monday, July 23.The President directed all intelligence agencies to address
this "economic sabotage" and bring rice cartel protectors to justice.
His second year in office was
hounded by the quick surge of rice prices due to the lack of cheap rice from
the National Food Authority (NFA).The lack of NFA rice partly contributed to a
jump in the inflation rate, which
has been beyond the government's target and market expectations.
Economic managers blamed the
NFA's inefficiency and overpricing for the elevated rice prices.
Duterte also declared the rice tariffication bill as
urgent.
The measure aims to lift
quantitative restrictions of rice imports and slap a 35% rice tariff. Revenues
from the measure would then be funneled to programs that would help farmers
reduce their production costs.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary
Ernesto Pernia previously said the measure would cut rice prices by as much as
P7 per kilo and significantly lower inflation. – Rappler.com
Western Cape drought erodes SA
status as wheat importer
Jul 22 2018 13:29
South Africa is traditionally a net importer of wheat, but the
Western Cape drought, which led to a decline in domestic wheat production,
resulted in an increase in wheat imports to 1.9 million tonnes – the
second-highest level on record, according to Wandile Sihlobo, head of
agribusiness research at Agbiz.In the latest Agbiz newsletter, Sihlobo says a
notable share of the wheat imports was in the first quarter of 2018. Although
the trade impact of the severe drought in the Western Cape was muted in the
first quarter, in his view, it will be felt in the coming quarters, as the
2017/2018 table grape production and major fruit production declined by double
digits year-on-year (y/y).
However, he points out that at this stage it is too early to say
precisely how big this impact is likely to be.Sihlobo says research from the
University of Cape Town shows Western Cape rainfall last year was the lowest in
more than 80 years. In contrast, in 2017 SA's agricultural exports surpassed
$10bn (about R134bn) for the first time. It was boosted by growth in exports of
edible fruits, beverages, spirits, vegetables, grains and other farm products. The
$10bn figure represented a 15% y/y increase from $8.7bn. Africa and Europe were
the largest destinations for SA's agricultural exports, collectively absorbing
67% of total exports last year in value terms. Asia was also an important
market, taking 24%. The Americas and the rest of the world accounted for 5% and
4%, respectively.
In the same period, SA agricultural imports increased by 5% y/y,
reaching $6.7bn, particularly driven by wheat and rice. According to Sihlobo,
the first quarter of 2018 started on a positive footing, with agricultural
exports amounting to $2.3bn, up 8% from the corresponding period in 2017,
according to data from Trade Map. This was boosted by increased sales of edible
fruits, beverages and spirits, vegetables, wool, sugar and cereals. Agricultural
imports in the first quarter of 2018 were worth $1.8bn, up 2% from the
corresponding period in 2017. This was driven by a notable uptick in grain
imports, particularly wheat and rice."Perhaps good production in other
fruit-producing provinces such as Limpopo could slightly offset the losses and
keep the SA agricultural trade balance in positive territory in the coming
quarters," adds Sihlobo.
* Sign up to Fin24's top news
in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24
NEWSLETTER
Follow Fin24 on Twitter and Facebook. 24.com
encourages commentary submitted via MyNews24.
Contributions of 200 words or more will be considered for publication.
Salt Rice
Springs From Chinese Hands in Dubai’s Sands
LIU JING & TANG SHIHUA
DATE: MON, 07/23/2018 - 20:33 / SOURCE:YICAI
Salt
Rice Springs From Chinese Hands in Dubai’s Sands
(Yicai
Global) July 23 -- Scientists with East China's Qingdao Seawater Rice Research
and Development Center, led by Yuan Longping, a member of the Chinese Academy
of Engineering known in China as the ‘Father of Hybrid Rice,’ have achieved
initial success with experiments to grow highly salt-tolerant ‘seawater rice’
in Dubai.
They
will introduce the technology to more places in the city, which is the capital
of the United Arab Emirates, and other parts of the Middle East and North
Africa, the state People’s Daily media reported.
The
Qingdao R&D center and the UAE government plan to set up a 100-hectare
seawater rice experiment farm next year under a framework agreement styled
‘Green Dubai’ signed by the center and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
the UAE’s vice president and prime minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The
project will go into commercial operation with the introduction of external
investors, including China’s Belt and Road sovereign funds.
Sheikh
Mohammed’s vision is that from 2020 onward the salt rice acreage will extend to
cover over 10 percent of Dubai’s total area, boosting food supplies for local
residents as well as improving the ecosystem in the desert country.
The
parties will also set up a local research center to introduce the grain strain
to the entire Arab world while improving its ecosystem.
Sheikh
Mohammed learned of the successful trial production of the salty rice in China
in November, and his private office contacted Yuan’s team shortly thereafter
and invited them to experiment with the technology in the emirate’s desert.
The
group started their trials on Jan. 8, and had more than 80 rice varieties --
including the saltwater rice -- mature between May and this month. Five
varieties delivered higher yields than the global average (4.539 tons per
hectare), as production tests conducted by a joint international expert team on
the first mature crop on May 26 demonstrated.
Dubai plans to expand Chinese saltwater rice into Arab world,
Africa
By Liu Caiyu Source:Global Times Published: 2018/7/23 22:53:39
Last Updated: 2018/7/24 0:56:24
Workers reap rice in Dubai. Photo: Courtesy of Qingdao Saltwater
Rice Research and Development Center
Dubai aims to create an oasis
that covers more than 10 percent of its land with saltwater rice developed by
Chinese researchers and then expand out to the rest of the Middle East and
North Africa.The Qingdao Saltwater Rice Research and Development Center, led by
China's "father of hybrid rice" Yuan Longping, is trying to breed
saline-tolerant rice varieties adapted to Dubai's climate, together with a
plant protection system that uses sensors and big data technologies. The
surface temperature of Dubai can reach 54 C between June and July, the
temperature in one day can swing over 30 C, and there is salt water with a
salinity of 1.6 percent seven to right meters under the desert.
"We are choosing the most suitable breeds for Dubai from more than 80 varieties," Zhang Guodong, deputy director of the center, told the Global Times. The saltwater rice varieties that the center has developed can grow with 0.6 percent saline water. Seawater is saline up to 3.5 percent, Zhang said. The first batch of mature rice yielded in Dubai in May has a maximum yield of 7.8 tons per hectare. The agricultural cooperative project of growing saltwater rice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is promising, as the country mulls shifting its oil-based economy to other industries, Yin Gang, a researcher at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
If the UAE project is successful, the technology could feed the entire Arab world, Yin said. UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, personally named a saltwater rice souvenir "Al Marmoom," to commemorate the successful test of the first batch of rice. It will be presented to distinguished guests as a future "national gift," according to the center's statement.
A 100-hectare saltwater rice experimental farm is going to be launched in the Dubai desert in 2019. The farm will be funded by commercial investment, including capital from China's Belt and Road initiative.The UAE also agreed with the center to establish the Yuan Longping Middle East and North Africa Salt Water Hybrid Rice Research and Promotion Center, which will promote rice growing technology in the Middle East and North Africa.
"We are choosing the most suitable breeds for Dubai from more than 80 varieties," Zhang Guodong, deputy director of the center, told the Global Times. The saltwater rice varieties that the center has developed can grow with 0.6 percent saline water. Seawater is saline up to 3.5 percent, Zhang said. The first batch of mature rice yielded in Dubai in May has a maximum yield of 7.8 tons per hectare. The agricultural cooperative project of growing saltwater rice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is promising, as the country mulls shifting its oil-based economy to other industries, Yin Gang, a researcher at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
If the UAE project is successful, the technology could feed the entire Arab world, Yin said. UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, personally named a saltwater rice souvenir "Al Marmoom," to commemorate the successful test of the first batch of rice. It will be presented to distinguished guests as a future "national gift," according to the center's statement.
A 100-hectare saltwater rice experimental farm is going to be launched in the Dubai desert in 2019. The farm will be funded by commercial investment, including capital from China's Belt and Road initiative.The UAE also agreed with the center to establish the Yuan Longping Middle East and North Africa Salt Water Hybrid Rice Research and Promotion Center, which will promote rice growing technology in the Middle East and North Africa.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1112046.shtml
‘Rice sector suffers brunt of typhoons’
Farmers and fishermen incurred losses amounting to P463.13 million
as of Sunday due to Tropical Storm Henry and severe Tropical Storm Inday, with
the rice sector suffering the majority of production losses, according to the
Department of Agriculture (DA). The DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Operations Center said production losses in the rice sector reached
P326.97 million. A total of 12,309 farmers tilling at least 25,680 hectares in
Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 6 were affected. The rice output loss was
estimated at 308 metric tons. Damages to the fisheries sector in Regions 2, 3,
4A and the Cordillera Administrative Region amounted to P136.16 million,
according to DA data.
Low use of pesticides can boost
basmati exports: Experts
To boost the popularity and export of basmati rice in the
international market, agricultural experts conducted a meeting with pesticides
dealers in the border belt, famous for the best quality basmati.Speaking on the
occasion, Agriculture Secretary Kahan Singh Pannu said the objective was to
improve the quality of basmati rice by reducing the use of pesticides, so that
it could fetch a better price in the international market. The pesticides
dealers from Amritsar and Tarn Taran attended the meeting.In the international market,
the grain with more pesticide residue are not sold or get a lower price. He
asked the dealers not to sell and recommend the use of pesticides to farmers
for their commission as it might create trouble for the already distressed
farmers.“Basmati rice worth Rs 50,000 crore is exported every year. The failure
to improve the quality may destroy the prospects of the local farmers.
Chemicals should not be used on crop unless recommended by PAU experts,” he
said.He said it had been observed that farmers paid more attention to the
suggestions given by pesticide dealers and ignore recommendations of
agriculture experts. Pannu asked dealers to not to sell certain chemical salts,
which are often bound in grains as a residue.Arvinderpal Singh, president,
Punjab Rice Export Association, said basmati rice with nearly zero pesticide
residue gets a good price in the international market. He announced that
traders would offer Rs 500 extra to such farmers whose crop is free of
pesticide residue.Director (Agriculture) Jasbir Singh Bains said around five
lakh hectares of area was under basmati crop this year. Around 40 lakh tonne of
basmati is expected to be exported. In Amritsar alone, the crop has been sown
on 80,000 hectares, he added.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/low-use-of-pesticides-can-boost-basmati-exports-experts/624978.html
Sri Lanka introduces new variety of
rice to help prevent diabetes
Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 11:02 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 11:02 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Officials
from the Ambalantota Rice Research Institute explained to the Minister that high
rice consumption by the people in Sri Lanka would increase the percentage of
sugar in the body. As a remedy, the research carried out by the Rice Research
Institute to introduce new varieties of rice has been highly successful and the
'Ambalantota Nirogi' variety has a low glycemic index and is effective in
preventing diabetes.
The
Minister examined the paddy fields that were cultivated with the Nirogi rice
and instructed the officials to take steps to cultivate the rice variety in
commercial scale for local consumption and even for exports.
The
Department of Agriculture is already carrying out a number of research projects
to introduce a range of this type of crops that benefits human health to the
Agriculture sector. The Department has already released a new high yielding
bitter gourd hybrid variety having high medicinal values.
Secretary
to the Agriculture Ministry, B. Wijeratne, Director General of Department of
Agriculture. M. M. Weerakoon and several other officials accompanied the
Minister.
HO CHI MINH CITY, July
23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's southern region grew nearly 1.7 million hectares of
summer-autumn rice which are estimated to churn out more than 9.5 million
tons in the ongoing crop, up 279,700 tons from the previous crop.Specifically,
the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's rice hub, grew nearly 1.6 million hectares of
summer-autumn rice, down 12,600 hectares from the previous crop, but its
combined output is estimated to increase 251,700 tons to 9 million tons,
according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The southern region
plans to grow 987,000 hectares of autumn-winter crop, expecting a total
output of 5.1 million tons of rice.
The Mekong Delta Rice
Research Institute is intensifying production of high-quality rice varieties
to supply them to seven Mekong Delta provinces.Vietnam exported nearly 3.6
million tons of rice worth over 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of
this year, up 12.5 percent in volume, and up 42 percent in value against the
same period last year, said the ministry. Vietnam, which shipped abroad
roughly 5.9 million tons of rice worth nearly 2.7 billion U.S. dollars last
year, mainly to China and the Philippines, plans to export 6.5 million tons
of rice, including higher volumes of such high-grade rice as Japonica, fragrant
rice and sticky rice, this year.
|
Southern
localities report bumper summer-autumn crop
Tay Ninh (VNA) – The summer-autumn rice crop in southern localities has yielded a good harvest, heard a conference held in the Mekong Delta province of Tay Ninh on July 20.Reports from Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in the south showed that the region planted 1.69 million hectares of rice, and expected an average yield of 5.63 tonnes per hectare. Total output was estimated at 9.51 million tonnes, up 279,700 tonnes from the same time last year.The Mekong Delta, the country’s rice granary, grew 1.59 million hectares, down 12,600 hectares from last year’s crop while total yield was reckoned at 9.03 million tonnes, 251,700 tonnes higher than the previous summer-autumn crop.
Meanwhile, rice output in southeastern provinces was approximated at 480,000 tonnes, up 28,000 tonnes from the same crop last year.The results were spurred by cooperation among the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development’s Department of Crop Production and Department of Irrigation, and provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in guiding local farmers to cultivate rice crops at proper times and to prevent damage caused by abnormal weather.
High-quality varieties were chosen for plantation, of which fragrant rice accounted for 22.41 percent.
Local exporters won a line-up of contracts, freeing farmers from worrying about rice consumption. Each kilogramme of rice was sold at an average 5,500-5,700 VND. As farmers have just harvested a third of the crop, they should pay due attention to protecting their crops from diseases, experts advised.
In the autumn-winter crop, the southern provinces plan to cultivate 978,000 hectares of rice and expects a yield of 5.1 million tonnes of the grain.Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said Mekong Delta provinces should consider proper time for rice cultivation as an early flood season has been forecast. Fragrant rice should be prioritised to bring high productivity, he added.On the occasion, the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute inked cooperation deals with agricultural cooperatives in seven Mekong Delta provinces, under which they will join hands to produce high-quality rice varieties.-VNA
Rice worth
$2.073bn exported in last year
ISLAMABAD: About 4.106 million tons of rice
worth US$ 2.073 billion were exported during 12 months of last financial year
as compared the exports of 3.523 million tons valuing US$ 1.606 billion of the
corresponding period of last years.
The exports of the above-mentioned commodity
had registered 26.78 per cent growth during the period under review, according
to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During the period from July-June, 2017-18,
about 520,759 metric tons of basmati rice worth US$ 540.231 million were
exported as against 496,263 metric tons valuing US$ 453.441 million of the same
period of last year.
The exports of basmati rice witnessed 19.14 per
cent growth when the quantity was compared with the same period of last year,
the data revealed.
Meanwhile, the country earned US$ 1.496 billion
by exporting rice other than basmati as about 3.585 million tons of other rice
exported as against the exports of 3.053 million tons worth US$ 1.153 billion
of the same period last year.
It may be recalled that food group exports from
the country recorded about 29.28 per cent growth as country earned US$ 4.797
billion exporting different food commodities, which were recorded at US$ 3.711
billion in the same period of last year.
The other commodities which recorded positive
growth in their exports during the period under review included fish and fish
products by 14.57 per cent, fruits and vegetables by 5.8 per cent and 30.56 per
cent respectively.
During the period under review fish and fish
products worth US$ 451.026 million, fruit and vegetables US$ 400.237 million
and 241.426 million respectively were exported.
On the other hand, the country spent US$ 6.185
billion on the import of food during last financial year, which was recorded at
US$ 6.143 billion during the same period of last year, showing an increase of
0.68 per cent, the data added.
During last year country consumed
about 183,321 metric tons of tea costing US$ 551.881 million as compared the
194.833 metric tons and US$ 523.790 million of the same period of last
year
Visiting Korean leader donates
33,000MT of rice for refugees
July 22, 2018 (2 days ago)
10:46 am
The donation will enable the agency to provide food assistance
to more than 1.5 million people, mostly refugees, living in Kenya, Ethiopia and
Uganda/COURTESY
By CORRESPONDENT, NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22 – The United Nations
World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday received a donation of 33,000 metric tons
of rice from the Government of the Republic of Korea.
The donation will enable the
agency to provide food assistance to more than 1.5 million people, mostly
refugees, living in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda.
The 33,000 metric tons donation
is the first-ever rice donation received from Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs.
The donation was handed over to
the global food agency by visiting Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon at a
warehouse in Nairobi.
“The rice provided by the
Government of the Republic of Korea may not be enough to solve the entire
hunger issue, but I hope that it can help to ease refugee hunger,” said
Nak-yon.
“I hope that even one sack of
rice can help to ease the minds of these refugees.”
In Kenya, 13,000 metric tons of
rice will allow WFP to continue providing in-kind food assistance to the
400,000 refugees living in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps for at least four
months starting in August.
“We are here today to recognise
the generosity of the Government, the farmers and the people of the Republic of
Korea,” said Erika Joergensen, WFP’s Regional Director.
“I truly hope and believe this is
the beginning of a strong partnership between WFP and the Republic of Korea.”
15,000 metric tons of rice has
already been dispatched to Ethiopia while another 5,000 metric tons will
benefit refugees in Uganda.
Cereals comprise about 75 percent
of the refugees’ food basket.
Every month, refugees receive
cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, a nutrient-enriched flour made from soya and
maize, and a cash transfer from WFP to meet their basic food needs
Rice Prices
as on :
23-07-2018 12:01:47 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Memari(WB)
|
63.00
|
-7.35
|
439.00
|
2450
|
2350
|
19.51
|
|
Hapur(UP)
|
50.00
|
25
|
1950.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
18.42
|
|
Karimganj(ASM)
|
40.00
|
-50
|
930.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
2.13
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
24.00
|
-37.66
|
1348.60
|
2275
|
2270
|
3.41
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
2700.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
9.09
|
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
12.00
|
-20
|
319.00
|
2160
|
2155
|
-
|
|
Alappuzha(Ker)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
120.00
|
6750
|
6750
|
50.84
|
|
Khurja(UP)
|
8.00
|
NC
|
718.00
|
2610
|
2600
|
-
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
6.80
|
1.49
|
543.20
|
2920
|
2920
|
29.78
|
|
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)
|
5.00
|
25
|
357.50
|
2310
|
2230
|
3.13
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
3.50
|
NC
|
664.50
|
2210
|
2210
|
-
|
|
Balarampur(WB)
|
1.81
|
NC
|
63.10
|
2640
|
2650
|
12.34
|
|
Kalimpong(WB)
|
1.80
|
-28
|
20.60
|
4800
|
4600
|
84.62
|
|
Khairagarh(UP)
|
0.80
|
-27.27
|
92.50
|
2560
|
2550
|
1.59
|
Published
on July 23, 2018
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article24493354.ece
Rice Prices
as on :
24-07-2018 12:33:03 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Sainthia(WB)
|
130.00
|
-1.52
|
928.00
|
2520
|
2470
|
14.03
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
100.00
|
400
|
2800.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
9.09
|
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
60.00
|
NC
|
2815.00
|
2750
|
2750
|
7.84
|
|
Kopaganj(UP)
|
55.00
|
5.77
|
2296.00
|
2150
|
2155
|
-0.46
|
|
Howly(ASM)
|
45.00
|
-41.56
|
3274.50
|
1400
|
1400
|
-22.22
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
40.00
|
-20
|
2013.60
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Bazpur(Utr)
|
40.00
|
196.3
|
2064.10
|
2450
|
2525
|
NC
|
|
Karimpur(WB)
|
35.00
|
-12.5
|
465.00
|
3700
|
3700
|
17.46
|
|
Jayas(UP)
|
31.00
|
14.81
|
1679.50
|
2100
|
2100
|
7.69
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
30.00
|
-6.25
|
312.00
|
2280
|
2270
|
5.07
|
|
Sirsaganj(UP)
|
30.00
|
25
|
919.00
|
2725
|
2725
|
15.96
|
|
Bindki(UP)
|
30.00
|
87.5
|
25116.00
|
2250
|
2250
|
-
|
|
Maharajganj(UP)
|
30.00
|
-14.29
|
165.00
|
2140
|
2150
|
-
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
20.00
|
66.67
|
541.00
|
2380
|
2420
|
-
|
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
20.00
|
66.67
|
1079.00
|
2680
|
2690
|
13.32
|
|
Kaliaganj(WB)
|
20.00
|
100
|
320.00
|
3150
|
2850
|
18.87
|
|
Falakata(WB)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
136.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
30.23
|
|
Alipurduar(WB)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
720.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
21.74
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
18.50
|
-22.92
|
1367.10
|
2280
|
2275
|
3.64
|
|
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
|
18.50
|
-5.13
|
1504.00
|
2685
|
2695
|
-
|
|
Kayamganj(UP)
|
15.00
|
7.14
|
590.00
|
2280
|
2280
|
NC
|
|
Bharthna(UP)
|
15.00
|
-50
|
6461.00
|
2440
|
2425
|
-
|
|
Madhoganj(UP)
|
10.50
|
-16
|
38.50
|
2230
|
2220
|
-
|
|
Alappuzha(Ker)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
130.00
|
6750
|
6750
|
50.84
|
|
Khurja(UP)
|
10.00
|
25
|
728.00
|
2600
|
2610
|
-
|
|
Vilthararoad(UP)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
600.00
|
2090
|
2090
|
-2.79
|
|
Dadri(UP)
|
10.00
|
-50
|
794.00
|
2670
|
2670
|
12.42
|
|
Fatehabad(UP)
|
8.20
|
57.69
|
16.40
|
2400
|
2320
|
-
|
|
Deogarh(Ori)
|
8.00
|
-11.11
|
456.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Farukhabad(UP)
|
8.00
|
60
|
232.40
|
2440
|
2460
|
10.41
|
|
Haathras(UP)
|
7.00
|
16.67
|
60.50
|
2490
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
5.50
|
-19.12
|
548.70
|
2920
|
2920
|
29.78
|
|
Bijnaur(UP)
|
5.00
|
-16.67
|
119.00
|
2460
|
2440
|
-
|
|
Buland Shahr(UP)
|
4.00
|
-20
|
139.50
|
2650
|
2600
|
13.25
|
|
Jahangirabad(UP)
|
3.50
|
-41.67
|
134.00
|
2550
|
2530
|
8.51
|
|
Kasganj(UP)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
64.00
|
2820
|
2820
|
-
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
3.00
|
-14.29
|
667.50
|
2215
|
2210
|
-
|
|
Khair(UP)
|
2.00
|
NC
|
1169.00
|
2575
|
2580
|
0.98
|
|
Shahganj(UP)
|
1.50
|
-78.57
|
86.00
|
4210
|
2110
|
100.48
|
|
Kalimpong(WB)
|
1.50
|
-16.67
|
22.10
|
4800
|
4800
|
84.62
|
|
Bangarmau(UP)
|
1.40
|
16.67
|
39.30
|
2200
|
2150
|
7.32
|
|
Chandoli(UP)
|
1.20
|
-20
|
232.30
|
2245
|
2235
|
-
|
|
Tundla(UP)
|
1.20
|
NC
|
129.60
|
2640
|
2650
|
-
|
|
Ujhani(UP)
|
0.90
|
50
|
6.00
|
2440
|
2440
|
-
|
|
Bilsi(UP)
|
0.80
|
14.29
|
2.50
|
2300
|
2300
|
-
|
Published
on July 24, 2018
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article24501769.ece
How rice importers are evading a yearly $21m tax at Tema port
Date: Jul 22 , 2018 , 22:35
BY: Maclean Kwofi
Category:
A grand scheme comprising some
major rice importers and their assigns are taking advantage of lousy clearance
procedures at the ports to make away with an average of more than US$21 million per a year, mainly through
under-declaration and misclassification of products.
Documents seen
by Graphic Online indicate that the importers that control
between 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the grain imported into the country,
together with other minor importers, are all implicated in this canker.
In
the case of under-declaration or under-invoicing, the importers are able to
cheat the system by declaring a price lower than the actual price of the rice
at source.
For
instance, in June last year, for a quantity of 500 kilogramme (kg)
bagged fragrant rice bought by one of the importers from Vietnam at US$572 and valued at US$286,000 in total, the importer
under-declared it at US$440, giving it a total value of US$220,000.
This
meant that the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) calculated
a duty of 45.9 per cent on US$220,000 rather than on US$286,000.
Thus,
instead of paying a duty of US$131,000, the company shortchanged the country by
paying US$100,980; thereby escaping with US$30,294 in just one consignment of
1kg bagged fragrant rice.
The
same situation happened with the 5kg, 4.5kg, 25kg and 50kg bags of rice in
various quantities imported by the same company during June 2017 alone.
This
also meant that the company, whose identity has been withheld, made away with
over US$711,000 from this dubious activity.
Thus,
should the situation remain like this throughout the year, it meant that one
importer swindled the revenue authorities of more than US$8.5 million last
year.
Another
corrupt strategy that some of the rice importers are using
is misclassification. Under this practice, importers do not state the
right classification of the rice in order to dodge taxes.
For
example, if a company brings in long-grain fragrant rice it is able to declare
at Customs that the product is white rice - which attracts lower duties than
the fragrant rice.
The
documents seen by Graphic Online shows that in April and May
this year one of the largest importers brought fragrance rice into the country
but declared it as white rice at the Tema Port.
The
effect of this is that it gives the company undue advantage of selling the rice
on the local market cheaper than its competitors paying the right duties,
thereby making them uncompetitive.
The
trend shows that the government loses on average US$21million annually from
these under-declaration and misclassification practices.
Graphic
Online is reliably informed that some of the importers who are affected
by these unscrupulous acts have reported the issue to law enforcers especially
the GRA, but action is yet to be taken to resolve them.
Customs aid process
Again,
Graphic Online has found out that the companies are able to carry out this
corrupt activity (under-declaration) by taking advantage of lapses in the
clearance process at the ports.
Customs
has a benchmark price for some products imported into the country, of which
rice is part. Under the benchmark pricing, per the documents sighted, all
fragrant rice imported into the country is priced at US$440 irrespective
of the bag’s size, be it 1kg or 50kg.
Meanwhile,
all the various quantities are bought at different prices at source: meaning
different duties should be calculated for each bag-size.
Customs,
however, require importers to declare the right prices goods are bought
at source. For example, even though Customs has set a benchmark price of
US$440 for a quantity of 500 1kg fragrant rice,
importers are expected to declare the original price of US$572 they
paid in Vietnam.
However,
this is not the case, as some of the importers are able to use their
sister-companies in other countries to declare prices below the original and
present invoices to that effect to Ghana Customs.
Customs
can address this by simply demanding from importers the original declaration
forms at source, in addition to all other relevant documents, for
calculation of duties.
Effect on local businesses
The
situation presented in this story puts the local industry in danger, as efforts
by government to boost their capacity will yield no results if the
big players continue to make away with millions through these corrupt
practices.
The
country’s current rice consumption is about 1.8 million tonnes, with local rice
production less than 600,000 tonnes. The Ministry of Agriculture is expecting
rice production to hit about 630,000 tonnes by end of the year.
With
the big importers cheating the system, the local industry’s prospects for
competing with them remain very dim indeed.
Email:
https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/how-rice-importers-are-evading-a-yearly-21m-tax-at-tema-port.html
Guyana sees 43 per cent
increase in rice exports
22 JULY 2018
4
GEORGETOWN, Guyana--General Manager of the Guyana Rice
Development Board (GRDB) Nizam Hassan has reported a 43 per cent increase in
rice exports in the first half of the year.
“When we look at the figures compared to the first half of 2017,
we saw first that the total volume that has been exported is 290,000 tonnes
which is 43 per cent more than the 203,000 tonnes than was exported during the
first half of 2017,” he said on Thursday.
The increase has so far earned the country GYD $23.2 billion (US
$111 million) this year against the value of the export for the first half of
2017 which was GYD $16.1 billion (US $77 million).
Hassan credited the increase to the determination of rice
producers and millers to meet production targets and, more so, to Guyana’s
access to new markets, particularly in Latin America.
“We’ve seen some significant increases in some of the blocks,
for example, exports to Latin America jumped by 215 per cent [compared to –
Ed.] the first half of 2017. We did 64,000 tonnes [in the first six months of
last year – Ed.] as against 202,000-plus tonnes in the first half of 2018,” he
said.
Standing out for exports were Mexico and Cuba taking a total of
133,000 tonnes – 45,000 and 88,000, respectively.
Approximately 99 per cent of the country’s rice lands cultivated
have been harvested. For the first crop of 2018, approximately 508,000 tonnes
of paddy was produced, equivalent to 330,000 tonnes of rice.
In preparation for the second crop for 2018, 86,660 hectares of
land has been prepared with 76,500 hectares (86 per cent) sown. ~
Caribbean360 ~
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/regional/78838-guyana-sees-43-per-cent-increase-in-rice-exports
Maize rises on increased offtake
PTI | Jul 23,
2018, 14:37 IST
New
Delhi, Jul 23 () In restricted activity, maize prices traded higher by Rs 10
per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake by
consuming industries. However, other grains moved in a narrow range in limited deals and pegged at last levels.
Traders said, besides increased offtake by consuming industries, fall in arrivals from producing belts mainly led to rise in maize prices.
In the national capital, maize edged higher by Rs 10 to Rs 1,270-1,275 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,240-2,340, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,950-1,955, Atta Chakki atta(delivery) Rs 1,960-1,965, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 250-280, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 275-310,
Roller flour mill Rs 1,040-1,060 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,100-1,110 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,160-1,170 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati rice Rs 9,900, Basmati common new Rs 7,400-7,500, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,700-6,800, Permal raw Rs 2,425-2,450.
Permal wand Rs 2,525-2,575, Sela Rs 3,050-3,150 and rice IR-8 Rs 2,025-2,075, Bajra Rs 1,300-1,305.
Jowar yellow Rs
1,750-1,800, white Rs 2,900-3,000, Maize Rs 1,270-1,275, Barley Rs 1,560-1,570.
SHW ADI
