With India out, China expands rice exports to Africa

(By Planeta Arroz*) China exported more rice to Côte d'Ivoire in the three months to October than in all of 2022, after India restricted shipments of the grain, and these restrictions are likely to extend until next year. The Asian country shipped 45,000 tons to the African country in October, equaling the volume exported in August, show customs data compiled by Bloomberg. Ivory Coast was India's fourth-largest buyer of non-basmati rice in 2022-23, according to Indian government data. Top exporter India increased its restrictions on overseas sales from the end of July and is expected to maintain those restrictions next year to contain local prices ahead of elections. An Asian benchmark index jumped to more than $600 per ton this week after recently cooling off from its highest level in nearly 15 years. Ivory Coast only purchased rice from China in October and August this year, with the total of 90 thousand tons exceeding the 63.5 thousand tons in 2022, ...