KARACHI, Oct 5: An Indian firm has quoted the lowest price in response to the rice tender floated by Mauritius government to import 30,000 tons of IRRI-6.

According to rice exporters here Tuesday, six parties including three Pakistani firms participated in the tender, which was opened on Wednesday (October 5, 2004) at Port Louis.

Indian firm Lt Overseas quoted a price of $270 per ton C&F basis followed by a Pakistani firm M/s Gharib Sons with $286.24, M/s Chairporn of Thailand with $286.95 per C&F basis.

State Trading Corporation of Mauritius has awarded the tender to Indian firm on the basis of lowest price. A leading rice exporter said the freight cost was very high as exporters have to pay $1700 per container from Karachi to Port Louis and at this rate Pakistani firm cannot be competitive.

Similarly, local prices of IRRI-6 are high and therefore Pakistani firms quoted high rates, he added. M/s Transtrade was another party from Pakistan which quoted a price of $290.77 per ton C&F and Maskey & Femtee of Karachi offered a price of $298 per ton C&F.

It may be noted that Pakistan has secured rice supplies to Mauritius against its two tender by quoting the lowest price but this time India won the tender. -APP