China lifts ban on rapeseeds: Do Indian exporters care?

Aadhira Anandh | The Dollar Business   While many might perceive China recently lifting its ban on the import of rapeseed meal from India as an outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent trip to the country, a proper analysis reveals that the Chinese ban hasn’t at all impacted the country’s exports of it. For, despite China being the top importer of rapeseed and colza seed from India before the ban, India’s exports of the residue have continued to grow year after year, reaching an all-time high of $310.7 million in FY2014.   This, on the back of the country increasing its rapeseed meal shipments to other traditional markets like South Korea and Bangladesh – a lesson that all industries that face frequent bans should take.

Destination of India's rapeseed and colza seed meal exports (FY2011)

  It’s worth noting that China had banned the import of Indian rapeseed in late 2011, claiming that they contained toxic chemicals. However, recently, the two Asian economic giants signed a sanitary protocol, which has opened China’s gates for Indian rapeseed.

] Destination of India's rapeseed and colza seed meal exports (FY2014)

May 30, 2015 | 7:18 pm IST.