Export of de-oiled rice bran on the rise

Kakinada, Feb 20 (UNI) The anchorage port affected by the the depletion of cargo traffic following a ban on rice exports, is again bustling with activity, with the sudden surge in the export of de-oiled rice bran (DOB) for the past few months.

While the maize exports have substituted the loss of revenue on rice cargo in recent months, the DOB exports have come as a ray of hope for the anchorage port workers, who would have to sit idle after maize stocks were exported.

According to Cocanada Chamber of Commerce Chairman Dantu Suryarao, the reason for the sudden spurt in DOB exports was that edible oilseeds likes Soya bean, Palm oil seed and Maize were getting diverted for bio-diesel production in view of higher price in the local market and the DOB was available comparatively at a cheaper rate.

Abundantly availble outside the state, the stocks of DOB have already started arriving from Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa.

Mr Arun Chapekar, a leading shipping agent, said the shippers have contracted for one lakh tonnes of DOB for immediate shipments to Japan, South Korea and other countries.

The DOB, besides being cheaper has great demand for poultry feed, cattle feed and piggery feed.

UNI XC VA ROY 1346