ICD, Ngp registers 60% jump in rice exports
03 Jul 2020 10:26:38
By Ravi Chandpurkar :
On a monthly average 3,200 containers of rice have been exported as against 2,000 containers compared to the previous year
Although most businesses are facing plethora of problems owing to lockdown induced by COVID-19, ICD, Nagpur managed by CONCOR has registered a jump in rice exports. “The company has registered 60 per cent rise in exports of rice compared to the year-ago period,” said Santosh Kumar Singh, Chief Manager of ICD, Nagpur while speaking to The Hitavada. He said that there had been a substantial rise in exports of rice especially during the months of May and June. On a monthly average 3,200 containers of rice have been exported as against 2,000 containers compared to the previous year. Major supplies of rice comes from Gondia and Raipur to CONCOR’s Inland Container Depot, MIHAN.
The rice is mostly exported to countries in the Middle East and Africa. “On the other hand, the imports have fallen by 50 per cent this year as compared to the previous year. This year, on a monthly average 1,000 containers are being imported as compared to monthly average of 2,000 containers of the previous year at ICD, Nagpur,” he said. Lack of demand, prevailing economic situation and strain in relations between India and China have contributed to the fall in imports. Clothes, consumer durables and toys were mostly imported from China, but these imports have dipped,” he said. CONCOR’s ICD, Nagpur has shifted 80 per cent of its operations to its new sprawling location at MIHAN.
The remaining 20 per cent operations will be shifted within two months, he said. The ICD, MIHAN is spread over an area of 110 acres compared to 35 acres at Ajni. Shifting to MIHAN has not only given three times more space but advantage of being closer to the industries located at MIHAN-SEZ, Butibori MIDC and Hingna MIDC. With the new facility in MIHAN, CONCOR is offering 10 per cent lower container handling and freight rates.
Currently the handling rates of 20 feet container is Rs 2,500 and for 40 feet container Rs 4,500. Similarly the freight rates for 20 feet container is Rs 28,000 whereas for 40 feet the rate is Rs 37,100. Other than container import and export services, the new facility at MIHAN offers domestic railway wagon handling services. Currently, the company is handling about three to four rakes per month. Mostly dals, foodgrains and rice is handled on domestic routes by rail, he further added.