India Prices Hit 1-1/2-year Peak As Virus Strains Export Logistics

With the top exporter now behind only the United States in the tally of COVID-19 cases, exporters have been grappling with limited availability of containers and mill workers at its biggest rice handling port of Kakinada on the east coast.

“Coronavirus outbreak has affected rice milling in Andhra Pradesh and loading operations at Kakinada. Limited supplies are available for exports though demand is robust,” said a Kakinada-based exporter.

In neighboring Bangladesh, domestic prices have risen up to 20% over a month amid fears of a production shortfall.

Excessive rainfall in March-April, cyclone Amphan in May and three spells of floods in June-July damaged most crops, of which 70% was paddy, according to agricultural ministry officials.