Egypt Issues Limited Export Licenses

Egypt's trade ministry has announced that it has issued licenses to 15 firms to export rice in December, but the quantity exported in this batch will be limited to 13,950 MT.

Egypt had earlier said it would set new rules for its export tender system, no longer stipulating that exporters must also supply rice to the state. Egypt imposed an export ban in March last year to control the rising cost of basic commodities. The ministry has said the ban will remain in effect until October 2010.