India to ship 10,000 tonnes of rice bran oil

India is expected to ship 10,000 tonne of rice bran oil this financial year after the Union Government eased restrictions on its bulk sale, giving a boost to small rice millers, an industry body said. Last year, the country exported about 2,000 tonnes of rice bran oil, according Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA).

“Lifting of the government restriction is a great boost to the industry and will help small rice millers across the country. We expect to export 10,000 tonnes of rice bran oil during this financial year," according to B. V. Mehta, Executive Director, SEA. SEA is now looking at new export destination for shipping of rice bran oil, which fetches a premium over other edible oils, Mr. Mehta said. "There has been good demand from countries like Japan and Thailand. We will also start exploring new destinations like Australia, New Zealand, the US for exports of rice bran oil," he added. Earlier due to the restrictions, all output was absorbed in the domestic market, he said. Mr. Mehta said the country produces 155 million tonnes paddy and has a potential to produce 8.76 million tonnes of rice bran and 1.53 million tonnes of rice bran oil.  India was the highest producer of rice bran oil with an output of 9.5 lakh tonnes in 2014-15, followed by China with two lakh tonnes and Japan 80,000 tonnes.   India is expected to produce 9.97 lakh tonnes this year.