India?s basmati rice exports during 2010-11 (April-March) may not match up to last year?s level because of improved crop in Iran and inventories in some of the importing countries, an official of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) said on Monday. Last year, India exported 2.3 million tonne of basmati rice, a record, versus 1.56 million tonne a year ago. Until July Apeda has registered basmati rice export contracts for 9,21,000 tonne compared with 1.22 million tonne a year ago, AK Gupta, advisor, Apeda, said. ?Last year was an exception when exports rose nearly 29% because of lower crop in Iran,? said Gupta. India?s move to notify 1121 variety as basmati rice also helped exports to pick up as this was a new variety for importers, he said.
?Unlike common rice, basmati rice a premium variety has a limited scope to get new markets,? he said.