GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 416

ANSWERED ON:23.04.2013

EXPORT OF WHEAT

ANANT KUMAR HEGDE

(a) whether the Government has decided to encourage/increase the export of wheat from the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the total quantity of wheat cleared for export and the quantity actually exported till March, 2013;

(c) whether the Government has incurred losses as a result of export of wheat made so far;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor indicating the economic cost of the said wheat incurred by the Food Corporation of India and the price at which it has been exported from the country along with the amount of loss incurred so far as a result of the said difference; and

(e) the corrective steps taken in this regard?

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIONbe pleased to state:- 

 MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS,

FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(PROF. K.V. THOMAS) 

 (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 416 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 23-4-2013 (a)&(b) Government has allowed export of wheat under Open General Licence (OGL) w.e.f 9-9- 2011. In view of the record production and procurement, Government has also allowed export of 45 lakh tons of wheat of RMS 2012-13 from Central Pool stocks of Food Corporation of India(FCI) through Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs). In addition, the Government has recently approved sale upto 50 lakh tons of wheat for export purposes by private exporters from the FCI Stocks of previous year i.e Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2011-12 . From 9-9-2011 to 31-3-2013, a quantity of 60.05 lakh tons of wheat has been exported from the country, out of which 30.82 lakh tons has been exported under OGL from privately held stocks and a quantity of 29.23 lakh tons has been exported from Central Pool Stocks out of 45 lakh tons approved for export through CPSUs.

(c)&(d) The export of wheat through CPSUs from Central Pool Stocks is being done by floating competitive global tenders. The floor price presently is US$ 300 per metric ton. The economic cost of wheat which includes acquisition cost, distribution cost, interest, administrative overheads etc. for all the stocks is 17,990/- per metric ton for the year 2012-13( Revised Estimates). The weighted average sale rate of wheat in the tenders finalised till 31-03-2013 has been US $ 312.76 which works out to 16,889/- per metric ton taking exchange rate @ 1 US$ = 54.00. If the 29.33 lakh tons wheat exported so far had continued in Central Pool stocks, it would have cost 2500 per ton per annum in storage and interest charges only.

(e) There is no need of change in this policy at present